Pubdate: Sat, 04 Oct 2014
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2014 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Rick Steves

It's time to end marijuana prohibition

When it comes to marijuana, some societies simply moralize and
criminalize. Others are more pragmatic and work to reduce harm by
taking the crime out of the equation, treating marijuana as a health
and education issue instead. As a travel writer and public television
producer - spending four months a year for the last 30 years overseas
- - I've had a passion for studying how different societies tackle the
same problems. And it's clear to me, we need to end our nation's
prohibition against marijuana.

Marijuana use is a serious, expensive and persistent challenge in our
society. And it's time for a new approach. That's why I co-sponsored
the initiative that legalized the responsible adult use of marijuana
in Washington state two years ago. And that's why I'm supporting
Measure 91, which will legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, allowing
adults 21 and over to buy up to one ounce from state-licensed stores
in Oregon.

Measure 91 is not pro-marijuana. Rather, it's anti-prohibition. I
believe that, like the laws that criminalized alcohol back in the
1930s, our current laws against marijuana use are causing more harm to
our society than the drug itself.

Marijuana is a drug. It's not good for you. It can be addictive. But
marijuana is here to stay. No amount of wishing will bring us a
utopian "drug-free society." Measure 91 is a smart law designed to
address this reality. It's been endorsed by Richard Harris (one of the
state's top drug treatment and addiction experts), former U.S.
Attorney Kris Olson, retired Supreme Court Justice Bill Riggs, labor
groups, senior citizen organizations, the state's largest newspaper
and more - an impressive list of well-respected Oregon leaders.

Marijuana is a huge underground business here in the Pacific Northwest
- - an untaxed cash crop enriching gangs and empowering organized crime.
Measure 91 will bring marijuana out of the black market, regulate it
and tax it. Taxes on the legal sale of marijuana are already raising
millions of dollars for public services in Washington state and
they'll do the same in Oregon after a Measure 91 victory.

Two years after Colorado and Washington state passed their laws
taxing, regulating and legalizing the responsible adult use of
marijuana, the Brookings Institute issued a study on how things are
progressing. They reported that the fears regarding increased teen
use, DUIs, and crime are not materializing and, on balance, taking the
crime out of the equation is looking like a smart move.

There are so many reasons to end the prohibition on marijuana. Whether
you want to improve the well-being of children, redirect money away
from criminals and into tax revenue for the state or protect civil
liberties, it's clearly time for a new approach. Rather than being
"hard on drugs" or "soft on drugs," by passing Measure 91, Oregon can
finally be smart about drugs. Please vote yes.

Rick Steves lives in the Seattle area, writes European travel
guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public
radio.
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MAP posted-by: Matt