420 Warrior
Well-Known Member
Candidates Dwight Holton And Ellen Rosenblum
Federal agents raided four Southern Oregon marijuana farms in rapid succession early last fall, searching homes, seizing residents' guns and hauling off hundreds of pot plants.
The show of force shocked Jackson County residents and infuriated many who believe the farms were operating legally under Oregon's medical marijuana law.
Six months later, the raids and marijuana in general have emerged as a surprise issue in the tight race for Oregon Attorney General. A pro-marijuana legalization group has come out strongly for retired Oregon Appellate Judge Ellen Rosenblum because it was her opponent, Dwight Holton, then acting U.S. Attorney, who authorized the controversial raids.
"Dwight Holton has called our voter-approved law a 'train wreck' and is campaigning on his plan to gut it," said Bob Wolfe, of Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement. "Holton is openly disrespectful of Oregon voters, and hostile to medical marijuana patients and providers. He would be a disaster as attorney general."
Pro-marijuana contributors had given about $2,600 to Rosenblum's campaign as of Friday. Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement is also running pro-Rosenblum ads on Portland radio stations and is gearing up a print ad campaign as well, Wolfe said.
Identifying oneself with the pot lobby is a high-risk strategy for a would-be Attorney General, in effect Oregon's top law enforcement official. It's a dramatic contrast to Holton, who cites among his supporters many of Oregon's district attorneys and sheriffs.
But Rosenblum has embraced her new supporters comparing Oregon's medical marijuana law to other pioneering state statutes like the bottle bill and assisted suicide measures. She toured a Tigard marijuana dispensary on Sunday. "It makes a huge different for me to see the collective and to see the way you are responsibly applying the law," she said to the applause of a gathered crowd.
Holton says he has no intention of gutting the medical marijuana law. But he has a dimmer view of how it's playing out. "We know from law enforcement officials that marijuana is ending up on the black market," he said.
More than 55,000 Oregonians, including patients suffering from cancer, AIDs and chronic pain, participate in the state's medical marijuana system. The law allows medical marijuana patients to have the drug but doesn't tell them where to get it.
Into that void, entrepreneurs have opened an estimated 50 "retail," dispensaries around the state, where patients can get pot directly from growers.
The law has generated tension with federal authorities, who still consider possession, purchase, growing and selling pot a crime. Some agree with Holton that pot grown under the auspices of the state program is finding its way to the street.
Rosenblum says Holton is out of touch with Oregon sensibilities on weed. "I will not support hard-ball tactics against medical marijuana providers and will protect the rights of medical marijuana patients," Rosenblum said. "Pursuing small-time marijuana users or attempting to dismantle the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act would be a waste of public dollars."
Holton fires right back at Rosenblum, particularly her statement that she will de-emphasize prosecution of minor marijuana possession cases.
"This is not about medical marijuana, it's about whether we're going to have an AG who picks and chooses which laws they're going to enforce," Holton said. "She's made it very clear that she does not think there are resources to enforce marijuana laws. It's entirely inappropriate. It invites lawbreaking."
Holton's camp has jumped on the marijuana issue, saying the policy gulf between the two candidates has become the "defining issue" of the campaign.
Wolfe agrees, saying Holton is "out-of-step" with the 400,000 or more recreational pot users in Oregon as well as his party. "He ought to be running as a Republican," Wolfe said.
That Holton would emerge as the "law-and-order" candidate in the race is not surprising given his long background as a federal prosecutor. He's also strived to position himself to the right of Rosenblum on the issue of Oregon's Measure 11 mandatory-minimum sentencing law.
Prosecutors generally favor mandatory minimum sentences, saying tough sentencing has helped reduce serious crime. But Measure 11 has led to swelling prison populations and enormous increases in the state's corrections budget.
Last week, the Multnomah County Prosecutors Association endorsed Holton, in part, it said because Rosenblum had sent mixed signals about her support of Measure 11.
Rosenblum, in the words of the prosecutors, told their group she supported Measure 11 and then told a Washington County group the next day that she was against mandatory minimums.
Holton said the tough minimum sentences "can be a very effective and just tool." He added that he has "grave concerns" about Rosenblum's flip-flopping on the issue.
Rosenblum said the prosecutors and Holton took her words out of context. While she said she misses the sentencing discretion taken away from judges by Measure 11, she has consistently supported the law.
At the same time, she said, given the "huge economic burden on taxpayers" created by Measure 11, "it would be irresponsible to refuse to consider any criminal justice and sentencing reforms if it can be demonstrated that the public's safety is not jeopardized."
Campaign notes: The SEIU endorsed Holton last week, giving him two of the three major public employee unions... Rosenblum has run two sizeable display ads in the most recent two editions of Willamette Week, the Portland weekly co-owned by her husband, Richard Meeker. Willamette Week has recused itself from covering the AG's race given Meeker and Rosenblum's marriage. The paper isn't charging Rosenblum for the ads. Her campaign finance records indicated a $15,680 payment-in-kind contribution from WW's parent, City of Roses Newspaper Co.
In the race for Oregon Attorney General between Dwight Holton and Ellen Rosenblum, medical marijuana and Measure 11 have emerged as diving issues.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Oregon
Source: Oregon Live
Author: Jeff Manning
Contact: www.oregonlive.com/contactus
Copyright: © 2012 Oregon Live LLC.
Website: www.oregonlive.com
Federal agents raided four Southern Oregon marijuana farms in rapid succession early last fall, searching homes, seizing residents' guns and hauling off hundreds of pot plants.
The show of force shocked Jackson County residents and infuriated many who believe the farms were operating legally under Oregon's medical marijuana law.
Six months later, the raids and marijuana in general have emerged as a surprise issue in the tight race for Oregon Attorney General. A pro-marijuana legalization group has come out strongly for retired Oregon Appellate Judge Ellen Rosenblum because it was her opponent, Dwight Holton, then acting U.S. Attorney, who authorized the controversial raids.
"Dwight Holton has called our voter-approved law a 'train wreck' and is campaigning on his plan to gut it," said Bob Wolfe, of Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement. "Holton is openly disrespectful of Oregon voters, and hostile to medical marijuana patients and providers. He would be a disaster as attorney general."
Pro-marijuana contributors had given about $2,600 to Rosenblum's campaign as of Friday. Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement is also running pro-Rosenblum ads on Portland radio stations and is gearing up a print ad campaign as well, Wolfe said.
Identifying oneself with the pot lobby is a high-risk strategy for a would-be Attorney General, in effect Oregon's top law enforcement official. It's a dramatic contrast to Holton, who cites among his supporters many of Oregon's district attorneys and sheriffs.
But Rosenblum has embraced her new supporters comparing Oregon's medical marijuana law to other pioneering state statutes like the bottle bill and assisted suicide measures. She toured a Tigard marijuana dispensary on Sunday. "It makes a huge different for me to see the collective and to see the way you are responsibly applying the law," she said to the applause of a gathered crowd.
Holton says he has no intention of gutting the medical marijuana law. But he has a dimmer view of how it's playing out. "We know from law enforcement officials that marijuana is ending up on the black market," he said.
More than 55,000 Oregonians, including patients suffering from cancer, AIDs and chronic pain, participate in the state's medical marijuana system. The law allows medical marijuana patients to have the drug but doesn't tell them where to get it.
Into that void, entrepreneurs have opened an estimated 50 "retail," dispensaries around the state, where patients can get pot directly from growers.
The law has generated tension with federal authorities, who still consider possession, purchase, growing and selling pot a crime. Some agree with Holton that pot grown under the auspices of the state program is finding its way to the street.
Rosenblum says Holton is out of touch with Oregon sensibilities on weed. "I will not support hard-ball tactics against medical marijuana providers and will protect the rights of medical marijuana patients," Rosenblum said. "Pursuing small-time marijuana users or attempting to dismantle the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act would be a waste of public dollars."
Holton fires right back at Rosenblum, particularly her statement that she will de-emphasize prosecution of minor marijuana possession cases.
"This is not about medical marijuana, it's about whether we're going to have an AG who picks and chooses which laws they're going to enforce," Holton said. "She's made it very clear that she does not think there are resources to enforce marijuana laws. It's entirely inappropriate. It invites lawbreaking."
Holton's camp has jumped on the marijuana issue, saying the policy gulf between the two candidates has become the "defining issue" of the campaign.
Wolfe agrees, saying Holton is "out-of-step" with the 400,000 or more recreational pot users in Oregon as well as his party. "He ought to be running as a Republican," Wolfe said.
That Holton would emerge as the "law-and-order" candidate in the race is not surprising given his long background as a federal prosecutor. He's also strived to position himself to the right of Rosenblum on the issue of Oregon's Measure 11 mandatory-minimum sentencing law.
Prosecutors generally favor mandatory minimum sentences, saying tough sentencing has helped reduce serious crime. But Measure 11 has led to swelling prison populations and enormous increases in the state's corrections budget.
Last week, the Multnomah County Prosecutors Association endorsed Holton, in part, it said because Rosenblum had sent mixed signals about her support of Measure 11.
Rosenblum, in the words of the prosecutors, told their group she supported Measure 11 and then told a Washington County group the next day that she was against mandatory minimums.
Holton said the tough minimum sentences "can be a very effective and just tool." He added that he has "grave concerns" about Rosenblum's flip-flopping on the issue.
Rosenblum said the prosecutors and Holton took her words out of context. While she said she misses the sentencing discretion taken away from judges by Measure 11, she has consistently supported the law.
At the same time, she said, given the "huge economic burden on taxpayers" created by Measure 11, "it would be irresponsible to refuse to consider any criminal justice and sentencing reforms if it can be demonstrated that the public's safety is not jeopardized."
Campaign notes: The SEIU endorsed Holton last week, giving him two of the three major public employee unions... Rosenblum has run two sizeable display ads in the most recent two editions of Willamette Week, the Portland weekly co-owned by her husband, Richard Meeker. Willamette Week has recused itself from covering the AG's race given Meeker and Rosenblum's marriage. The paper isn't charging Rosenblum for the ads. Her campaign finance records indicated a $15,680 payment-in-kind contribution from WW's parent, City of Roses Newspaper Co.
In the race for Oregon Attorney General between Dwight Holton and Ellen Rosenblum, medical marijuana and Measure 11 have emerged as diving issues.
News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Oregon
Source: Oregon Live
Author: Jeff Manning
Contact: www.oregonlive.com/contactus
Copyright: © 2012 Oregon Live LLC.
Website: www.oregonlive.com
