Pubdate: Mon, 22 Sep 2014
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2014 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Nigel Duara, The Associated Press
Page: B1

OREGON STARTS LAYING GROUNDWORK BEFORE STATE VOTES ON LEGALIZING POT

PORTLAND - In the months before a marijuana-legalization measure goes 
before voters, the leadership of Oregon's largest agencies quietly 
convened high-level meetings to discuss how to deal with it.

The legalization measure would touch every corner of state 
government, from the Oregon State Police, who would no longer make 
minor marijuana arrests, to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, 
which would administer the program.

"They're trying to not get caught flat-footed," said commission 
spokeswoman Christie Scott.

The agencies in attendance were the liquor-control commission, the 
state police, the agriculture, revenue, transportation and justice 
departments, and the Oregon Health Authority.

To prepare for the measure, which would tax and regulate commercial 
recreational marijuana, the meetings also included state officials 
who spoke to their counterparts in legal marijuana states, Colorado 
and Washington.

They sought to learn lessons from the mistakes of those two states.

"Thank goodness Colorado and Washington went first," said 
liquor-commission Chairman Rob Patridge. "But we're different. We're 
way different."

Patridge and Scott said that the meetings were necessary - if the 
measure passes, there's a short timeline between the vote in November 
and the Jan. 1 kickoff of legalization.

Patridge said he also expects a number of questions when the 
Legislature convenes Feb. 2.

The "Yes on 91" campaign and its petitioning group New Approach 
Oregon raised at least $2.3 million when they were last required to 
report their fundraising, in late August.

The opposition did not report a single contribution or dollar spent 
by the August deadline.

Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers, the petitioner of the opposition 
campaign, did not return repeated calls seeking comment.

The pro-legalization campaign will spend the money on 
get-out-the-vote efforts in Oregon, which operates a ballot system 
conducted entirely by mail, and has reserved $2 million in television 
advertising space before the general election.

Throughout the state, however, no campaign is yet visible: no 
television or radio spots, no fliers on light poles and no pamphlets 
in the mail.

The liquor-control commission estimates that the measure would 
generate between $17 million and $40 million in tax revenue.

Forty percent of that money would go to schools and 20 percent would 
go to alcohol, drug and mental health services. The remaining dollars 
would be split among the state police and municipal and county law enforcement.

Proponents argue the measure would redirect needed police attention 
from minor, nonviolent drug crimes to more pressing issues.

"The current approach fuels drug cartel violence, fails to protect 
children and distracts police at a time when there are unsolved 
murders and untested rape kits," said New Approach Oregon spokesman 
Peter Zuckerman in an email. "Measure 91 will end decades of failed policy."

The measure would permit possession of up to a half-pound of pot.

Oregon decriminalized marijuana in 1973 and legalized medical 
marijuana in 1998, and early polling shows the commercial 
legalization measure holding a significant lead.

But opponents of commercial legalization, mostly law enforcement and 
the state's district attorneys, argue that full legalization is unnecessary.

Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said there are fewer 
than 100 people in prison in Oregon on marijuana-related crimes.

He argues that a legal market would make marijuana easier for 
children to access and would increase the number of intoxicated drivers.

"The most disturbing thing is the argument that marijuana has 
absolutely no downside," Marquis said at a debate this month. "Why 
would we want to introduce another drug?"
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom