cannabisnews.com: Is Oregon Next To Go Green?

cannabisnews.com: Is Oregon Next To Go Green?
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Is Oregon Next To Go Green?
Posted by CN Staff on October 04, 2014 at 07:57:19 PT
By Anna Staver, Statesman Journal
Source: Statesman Journal
Oregon is know for being green, but this November voters will decide just how green they really want to be. That’s because Oregonians get to choose whether they want to legalize recreational marijuana for people who are 21 or older.Measure 91 would allow a person to possess up to 8 ounces of marijuana and to cultivate up to four plants. It would also give the Oregon Liquor Control Commission authority to oversee and regulate recreational sales, which would start in January 2016. It would be similar to the way the commission regulates wine and beer rather than alcohol because the state wouldn’t own or distribute marijuana products.
Recreational marijuana would be taxed at $1.50 a gram or $35 an ounce, according to the initiative. That money would be used for schools, law enforcement, drug treatment programs and mental health programs.Mazen Malik, an economist with the Legislative Revenue Office, estimates recreational sales would generate about $16 million for the first fiscal year, and Oregon would earn a $9 million in profit.That number’s expected to accelerate in the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years, according to Malik’s office. He anticipates the state will earn $40.9 during the 2017-19 biennium.The state’s revenue predictions assume the economists are correct in predicting that 11 percent, or 416,721, Oregonians would consume marijuana products.And it assumes they also correctly guessed how many people will convert immediately from the black market.Marijuana sells for about $177 ounce on Oregon's black market, but legal pot could sell for $330 an ounce.About 30 percent of users are expected to convert immediately, but the rest will wait for the price of legal marijuana to become more in line with black market prices.That’s proven to be the case in Colorado and Washington, which legalized recreational marijuana in 2012.Colorado also has seen less revenue from sales because medical marijuana users, who the state believes belong in the recreational market, aren't switching. Taxes collected from medical marijuana in Colorado are outpacing recreational revenue.Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, but voters rejected legalizing cannabis 55 percent to 45 percent in 2012.That effort, lead by Paul Stanford, received little financial support from national marijuana advocacy organizations — which called the initiative poorly written.The Yes on 91 campaign leaders say they’ve learned from those mistakes and call their initiative a "sober" approach to legalization. Their measure places limits on personal possession, sets the age at 21 rather than 18 and bans public consumption.Their approach appears to be working.The group has raised more than $2 million, according to online records from the Secretary of State.And Measure 91 has earned the endorsement of several high profile Oregon officials like former U.S. Attorney Kris Olson and former Oregon Supreme Court Justice Bill Riggs.The No on 91 campaign also has its share of prominent supporters, including the Oregon Sheriff’s Association — which donated $100,000.Whether Measure 91 will pass in November remains too close to call.A Survey USA poll done for KATU-TV in September showed Measure 91 with a narrow lead of 44 to 40 percent.That’s within the margin of error for the poll and it showed the ballot initiative only enjoying majority support among voters 18 to 34 — who have been the least likely to vote in midterm elections.Three reasons why the opponents of Measure 91 think you should vote no:1. What’s the Hurry: Legalization will create significant public health costs, such as increased teen use of marijuana and marijuana related traffic fatalities. Washington and Colorado are now experimenting with legalization, and within a few years, we’ll know if it’s working or if it is not worth the risk.Let’s let Washington and Colorado learn the hard lessons of what happens when you license big marijuana to start marketing the drug just like big tobacco marketed cigarettes.If it works, then follow suit. If not, then we have spared ourselves huge public health and tax costs.2. 91 means more kids using marijuana and falling behind developmentally: In Colorado, big marijuana is targeting kids as their most promising source of profit, from gummy bears to children's cereal infused with pot that slick marijuana industry salesmen are hoping to hook kids as lifetime customers.They are even suing for the right to market and advertise as they choose.Measure 91 allows precisely the same “edible marijuana” products that are being sold in Colorado — where marijuana-related emergency rooms visits have seen a 57 percent jump from 2011 to 2013.We don't need more kids using pot in Oregon.3. 91 Has NO drugged driving limit: Measure 91 contains 35 pages, 86 Sections and thousands of words and not one clause creates a limit to keep our roadways safe from drugged drivers. We all know the limit for alcohol, it is .08 percent.But 91 has no such standard, making driving under the influence of marijuana difficult to enforce.The pot industry says “don’t worry, we’ll take care of that later.” That type of thinking doesn't keep our roads safe. And neither does Measure 91.Three reasons why the supporters of Measure 91 think you should vote yes:1. Stop wasting money and police time by treating marijuana as a crime. Police have arrested or cited more than 99,000 people in Oregon for marijuana over the last decade – at a time when Oregon has untested rape kits, missing children and unsolved murders.By regulating and legalizing marijuana only for adults 21 and older, Measure 91 will free up time and money for police to focus on serious, violent and unsolved crimes.2. Stop ruining lives and drive out the cartels instead. Criminalizing marijuana has led to unnecessary arrests and prosecutions of Oregonians, which puts people into the criminal justice system instead of into drug treatment and prevention programs.Drug cartels, gangs and illegal dealers make a tax-free profit, and grow it illegally on forest and parkland.By regulating and legalizing marijuana, Measure 91 takes power and money away from the criminal market and drug cartels, and the taxes on marijuana go to police, schools and drug prevention and treatment programs.3. The problems caused by marijuana are made worse by the current system and are better addressed by Measure 91. Right now we aren't controlling marijuana at all, and drug cartels and dealers are in charge.Under Measure 91, marijuana will be regulated and legal only for adults over 21, taking power and money away from the drug cartels and freeing up police to address violent crime.Fewer drug dealers means less access for kids. Taxes on marijuana means prevention programs for kids will be funded.Source: Statesman Journal (OR)Author: Anna Staver, Statesman JournalPublished: October 3, 2014Copyright: 2014 Statesman JournalContact: letters statesmanjournal.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/wuGkil77Website: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #15 posted by Hope on October 12, 2014 at 08:28:42 PT
Oleg the Tumor
I was actually thinking about that the other evening. Years ago we often talked about how we should get together some weekend at and near FoM's and camp out and meet and have our own little festival/get-together. We have many musicians and artists among us that, guitars in hand, could provide lots and varied musical entertainment. It was fun to think about, although we never did it.What I was thinking the other night, was that we probably should have done it then if we were ever going to do it, because now, there would likely be so many of us show up, it would turn our dear friend's farm into another Yasgur's farm! But yes... it would be nice to all meet someday.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on October 11, 2014 at 16:30:06 PT
Oleg
It would be great to all meet someday.
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Comment #13 posted by Oleg the Tumor on October 11, 2014 at 14:05:45 PT
FoM, Hope, Afterburner, The GCW
One day when all this B.S. is over, I hope all of us can meet up.I'd love to hear all of your stories.I have a story that will make all of you laugh so hard, you'll fall down and roll!And to my audience at the NSA: "Its a nice day." (But remember, you guys would not have had to do what you did if I had not first correctly guessed that there is no longer a fourth amendment in effect-remember that. Anyway, thanks for saving my bacon on June 30, 2012.)
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 05, 2014 at 20:21:04 PT
Hope
The one thing decriminalization does it takes the heat off of marijuana but legalization must happen to end this terrible injustice.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 05, 2014 at 20:16:49 PT
afterburner
I agree with you and Hope!
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on October 05, 2014 at 17:59:06 PT
Afterburner... my friend,
You are right!
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 05, 2014 at 17:56:42 PT
The State Legislature has brought us some reform..
But not nearly every place in Texas took advantage of the new laws. The legislature made it possible, a couple or three years ago, to write tickets for certain amounts... but it was "Possible". The police weren't required to do it that way. Since then, no where in Texas do they HAVE to arrest people for small amounts... but most places, I think, still do. They want your fingerprints and what ever else they can get. So there has been some reform compared to what it was... but it's far from legal yet. People still get shot up in armed home invasion style raids. You never know from which county or city that if that joint the kid forgot on his ear is going to send him to jail or just get him a big fat ticket. Decrim is progress, but you know I want it legal. I've been a legalizer from day one... in hopes of the tribulations ending for cannabis users. You know I was for legalization when a lot of us still hated the word. So, while I have to accept decrim as a step forward... I want legalization. I want to stop the harm of prohibition and the only way the harm will stop, more completely, anyway, is with legalization.
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Comment #8 posted by afterburner on October 05, 2014 at 17:44:52 PT
We Just Keep Building that New World We Want
Oleg, Hope, FoMLed Zeppelin - The Rover lyrics
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Rover-lyrics-Led-Zeppelin/ABD04BEDD2EB6DF74825688700048854We will not stop until this wonder plant and its people are treated with the respect they deserve!
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 05, 2014 at 15:21:06 PT
Hope
I hope change comes to Texas and all the states that are still fighting against reform.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 05, 2014 at 12:50:33 PT
Improvements may be happening in Texas. I hope so.
Dallas County may replace arrests with tickets for small amounts of pothttp://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20141004-dallas-county-may-replace-arrests-with-tickets-for-small-amounts-of-pot.ece
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on October 05, 2014 at 12:19:11 PT
The GCW and Oleg
The GCW, I thought of Big Prohibition when I was reading your comment. I think you are right. I've seen no "Big Marijuana" like they are flailing around about. I don't see how their even remotley could be at this point. If it's supposed to be a comparison to big tobacco or big pharm... it's not a good one. Some day, when there is drug war peace world wide, peace for cannabis consumers, it may someday be like Big Tea or Big Coffee. But right now it is Big Prohibition, all the way, for sure and prohibitionists are fighting tooth and nail to keep it. Oleg, yes, that "What's the hurry" really irked me, too. I've seen it before and it just made me cringe. It always should have been done yesterday so that they would have to cease killing, robbing, arresting, intimidating and bullying people. The "What's the hurry?" prohibitionists are so eat up with their preferred income plan that they must, somehow, be blind to the lives they are hurting and destroying.All of us here have been raising a ruckus for so many years now, not because we want to smoke cannabis legally. as you like to sneer so as to divert people's minds from the truth. We're fighting you, because you are evil and you are hurting people. You are perpetrating a terrible injustice on so many people. We're resisting and fighting you to stop you from hurting and murdering people like you are doing and have been doing.The hurry, you self centered, self righteous busybodies is to take your power to harm others the way you have been for decades now! It's about you! You are monsters. You kill people. You steal their lives, their freedom, and even their property. You take their futures, their money, and their ability to earn money. You take their children and their freedom because you are some kind of freaks about people using cannabis and you are using the legal system to harm those people. You have to be stopped as soon as possible... preferably yesterday before you impact someone else with your horrible fetish.
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Comment #4 posted by Oleg the Tumor on October 05, 2014 at 06:34:45 PT
Who is in a hurry?
"Three reasons why the opponents of Measure 91 think you should vote no:1. What’s the Hurry: … "I'm not sure I'm reading this right. I will have to read this entire article again. Right now I'm so angry about number one above that I can't even see straight and I know it.Hope nailed it with "Big Prohibition". That says it all.The division goes deeper than anyone can know. It is one thing for people to have their rights taken from them. It is another when, generations later, sanity tries to prevail and is told, "Why are you in a hurry?"Here is my answer: I am an epileptic with a brain tumor diagnosed with "progression of disease." The benefits of cannabis on a diseased neurology is well known. I have been through surgery, rehab, & chemo and take handfuls of anti-seizure meds at both ends of the day. My future is what it is, a finite number, no different from everyone else. I have contributed to the Social Security system since 1969, volunteered at length over the decades to help others. Now, because of the chicanery of long dead millionaires to increase their own holdings controlling physicians, petroleum as a raw material, AND to denominate crude oil in US currency ONLY – we are where we are. For people who are on their way to the grave (and this does include you, by the way) to be told that you might first stop along the way before a judge and then spent some time in the can - is more than just insulting.It is all backward. The dark ages 2.0, here we go.This is no longer just about a plant, it's about the economy.WE NEED THE JOBS! OUR KIDS NEED A FUTURE AND THEY WILL NOT CONTINUE THIS LIE!FREE THE PRISONER OF SCHEDULE ONE!
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on October 05, 2014 at 05:29:34 PT
Hope,
Big Prohibition.Very good label. Never thought of that before. And that exists.
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Comment #2 posted by Hope on October 04, 2014 at 19:32:36 PT
Many of the people we call "Prohibitionists"
are in fact, a part of a very big... very scary, very dangerous deal that could easily be known as "Big Prohibition".They make good money off prohibition... and they don't want to see "Big Prohibition" end.And it's BIG. It's very big! Big Prohibition has ruined so many lives and taken many lives outright.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on October 04, 2014 at 13:06:33 PT
Opposition fears unfounded.
Let's examine the 3 reasons why the opponents of Measure 91 think you should vote no:1. A number of different studies have show increased teen use of marijuana and marijuana related traffic fatalities DO NOT TAKE PLACE. Studies have shown just the opposite! Voting YES will in fact lower teen use and traffic fatalities!2. I live in Colorado and I have not noticed any BIG marijuana. Further, the claim it's targeting kids can not be true because there is almost ZERO instances where legal cannabis retailers have ever sold any product to kids. If cannabis is being sole to kids, it's through the black market, not legal outlets.The opposition uses the term, "big marijuana" to insight fear yet it doesn't exist.3. Many studies including international studies indicate there is less danger to the public due to people driving while under cannabis influence than what the opposition will admit. In Colorado, after cannabis was RE-legalized there were laws passed to set limits and the same can be expected in Oregon.The opposition to cannabis is not strong enough to continue forcing the black market to regulate and sell cannabis to the public.Re-legalizing cannabis has made Colorado safer and has put police back to work doing police work.
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