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As Washington and Colorado deal with legalization, Oregon may follow suit. The country's first retail marijuana outlets opened Jan. 1 in Colorado, but in the coming years, more than a dozen more states including Oregon could follow suit.
Northern neighbors
As with Colorado, Washington voters said yes to legalized marijuana in the November 2012 election, though the Evergreen state has lagged behind in setting up its regulatory framework. Possession of up to one ounce of marijuana is now legal in Washington for adults 21 and older, but the state is still a few months away from issuing licenses to state-approved growers and retailers.
Oregon's efforts
Oregon's last run at legalizing the recreational use of marijuana fell short at the polls in November 2012, garnering nearly 47 percent of the vote. Two groups, including the group behind the 2012 effort, are gearing up to put legalization measures before Oregon voters again this fall. Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, the authors of the 2012 measure, has filed to collect signatures to put a legalization initiative on the November ballot.
Meanwhile, a new group, New Approach Oregon, is pushing the Legislature to draft a legalization measure for voters to consider in the fall and has said it will pursue its own initiative campaign if the Legislature does not. In November, New Approach Oregon received a $64,000 donation from Peter Lewis, the chairman of Progressive insurance and a longtime funder of marijuana legalization efforts. Records kept by the Oregon Secretary of State show New Approach Oregon began the year with nearly $67,000 in the bank, compared with just $200 for the Cannabis Tax Act.
Penalties already eased
Regardless of what happens in November, Oregon is softening the penalties for recreational marijuana use. In the 2013 Oregon legislative session, legislators reduced maximum sentences for the possession of more than one ounce of the drug and eliminated the practice of suspending the drivers license of anyone possessing less than an ounce.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Bendbulletin.com
Author: Scott Hammers
Contact: Contact Us
Website: Oregon likely to have pot on the ballot again this fall
Northern neighbors
As with Colorado, Washington voters said yes to legalized marijuana in the November 2012 election, though the Evergreen state has lagged behind in setting up its regulatory framework. Possession of up to one ounce of marijuana is now legal in Washington for adults 21 and older, but the state is still a few months away from issuing licenses to state-approved growers and retailers.
Oregon's efforts
Oregon's last run at legalizing the recreational use of marijuana fell short at the polls in November 2012, garnering nearly 47 percent of the vote. Two groups, including the group behind the 2012 effort, are gearing up to put legalization measures before Oregon voters again this fall. Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, the authors of the 2012 measure, has filed to collect signatures to put a legalization initiative on the November ballot.
Meanwhile, a new group, New Approach Oregon, is pushing the Legislature to draft a legalization measure for voters to consider in the fall and has said it will pursue its own initiative campaign if the Legislature does not. In November, New Approach Oregon received a $64,000 donation from Peter Lewis, the chairman of Progressive insurance and a longtime funder of marijuana legalization efforts. Records kept by the Oregon Secretary of State show New Approach Oregon began the year with nearly $67,000 in the bank, compared with just $200 for the Cannabis Tax Act.
Penalties already eased
Regardless of what happens in November, Oregon is softening the penalties for recreational marijuana use. In the 2013 Oregon legislative session, legislators reduced maximum sentences for the possession of more than one ounce of the drug and eliminated the practice of suspending the drivers license of anyone possessing less than an ounce.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Bendbulletin.com
Author: Scott Hammers
Contact: Contact Us
Website: Oregon likely to have pot on the ballot again this fall
