Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jun 2015
Source: Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.spokesman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/417
Author: Sheila V Kumar, Associated Press

OREGON LAWMAKERS OK MARIJUANA MARKET

SALEM (AP) - After months of negotiations and right before 
recreational pot becomes legal, Oregon House legislators passed a 
bill Wednesday setting up the state's legal marijuana market.

The measure creates regulations for medical and recreational 
marijuana, and includes a compromise allowing local jurisdictions to 
opt out. Members of a joint committee tasked with implementing 
Measure 91 had previously deadlocked on the issue of local control, 
and the measure stalled for weeks while lawmakers worked out an agreement.

Counties or cities that voted against Measure 91 can choose to bar 
sales of marijuana if at least 55 percent of their residents opposed 
the ballot measure in last year's election. Other counties would have 
to put the issue to a vote.

The bill also creates a tracking system for marijuana so officials 
can trace pot from seedling to retail sale. The Oregon Health 
Authority would be in charge of creating and maintaining a database 
tracking pot's path, and the bill requires grow sites to register and 
submit information on the amount of marijuana processed every month.

"We want to help local businesses be successful in this legal market. 
We want to reduce illegal activity and transactions that are not in 
accordance with these laws. We want to keep kids and communities 
safe," said Rep. Ann Lininger, a Democrat from Lake Oswego who 
carried the bill.

Additionally, the measure reduces penalties for some drug-related 
offenses. Geoff Sugerman, a lobbyist for Oregon Cannabis PAC, said it 
will bring the criminal statutes in line with the fact that marijuana 
is now legal. The measure, HB 3400, also will expunge many 
marijuana-related convictions, which will benefit tens of thousands 
of Oregonians, he said.

"The so-called war on drugs has devastated communities across this 
country. With the experience of Prohibition behind us, we should know 
better, but instead we fill prisons and break up families over this 
drug," said Rep. Lew Frederick, a Portland Democrat.

Consumption of recreational pot becomes legal July 1 in Oregon.

The House approved the measure 52-4. It now heads to the Senate.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom