Go Oregon!

[KISE1]

SALEM, Ore. - Relax it and tax it.

That's the motto behind a new cannabis initiative that would allow Oregon's state-controlled liquor stores to legally sell marijuana to adults.

Initiative backers said their plan would send 90 percent of the proceeds from the state's sale of marijuana to Oregon's General Fund, which could lower Oregonians' state tax burden.

Smaller percentages would go to funding drug abuse education and treatment programs.

The initiative would also legalize the growing of hemp, a non-drug variant of cannabis that can be used to make industrial-strength fibers and bio-fuels.

Supporters claim that allowing cannabis cultivation and sales through state liquor stores would add $300 million in combined tax revenues and savings to Oregon's budget.

Paul Stanford of the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act said the measure would also put a dent in illegal dealing of the weed.

"We want to take marijuana out of the hands of children and substance abusers, who control the market today, and put it in the hands of the state's liquor control commission and the age limit of 21 will be strictly enforced," Stanford said at a press briefing.

Supporters have two years to collect nearly 83,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot in 2010.
http://www.katu.com/news/24036504.html

 

[twisted treez]

fucking awsome , but that means the weed would be processed?

 

[snookster]

I'm filing for Residency as soon as it passes!!!!!!!!!

 

[SCF]

SALEM, Ore. - Relax it and tax it.

That's the motto behind a new cannabis initiative that would allow Oregon's state-controlled liquor stores to legally sell marijuana to adults.

Initiative backers said their plan would send 90 percent of the proceeds from the state's sale of marijuana to Oregon's General Fund, which could lower Oregonians' state tax burden.

Smaller percentages would go to funding drug abuse education and treatment programs.

The initiative would also legalize the growing of hemp, a non-drug variant of cannabis that can be used to make industrial-strength fibers and bio-fuels.

Supporters claim that allowing cannabis cultivation and sales through state liquor stores would add $300 million in combined tax revenues and savings to Oregon's budget.

Paul Stanford of the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act said the measure would also put a dent in illegal dealing of the weed.

"We want to take marijuana out of the hands of children and substance abusers, who control the market today, and put it in the hands of the state's liquor control commission and the age limit of 21 will be strictly enforced," Stanford said at a press briefing.

Supporters have two years to collect nearly 83,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot in 2010.
http://www.katu.com/news/24036504.html

:jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop:


Best news i read all day. Thanks.

 

[FunkBomb]

Finally. Every state should relax and tax it. Then maybe we could pay teachers more and fix the failing education system. Soon come....

-Funk

 

[socioecologist]

The only downside to this initiative is that all sales are run through state liquor stores; there is very little said about how the state will be buying pot. My hunch is the lowest bidder will get the deal. Who wants to buy government pot grown by the lowest bidder? At least it would allow the self-sufficient to grow their own with (state) impunity.

Of course this is all assuming that the state government will acquiesce to buying and selling a schedule 1 controlled substance....Might be a big assumption, eh? It's a step in the right direction, but the way its written--I'm afraid--will turn it into a "statement" vote instead of action.

 

[SCF]

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/542/oregon_marijuana_tax_regulate_initiative


Marijuana: Oregon Initiative For Regulated Sales Starts Gathering Signatures
view translation
Printer Friendly Version Email this Articlefrom Drug War Chronicle, Issue #542, 7/11/08
Oregon has already decriminalized marijuana possession and enacted the second-largest state medical marijuana program in the country, and now some Oregon activists are ready to move to the next level. This week, signature gathering began for the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA), which would provide for marijuana to be sold in retail stores, among other things.

According to initiative sponsors, the act would provide for "regulating and taxing adult sales; licensing the cultivation of the drug for sale in state-run package stores and adults-only businesses; allowing adults to grow their own and farmers to grow industrial hemp without license; and letting doctors prescribe untaxed cannabis to patients suffering from a variety of illnesses and injuries."

The initiative effort is being led by D. Paul Stanford of the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH) and Madeline Martinez, head of Oregon NORML. Whether other elements of the state's sometimes fractious marijuana community will come on board remains to be seen.

Parts of the community had been in the defensive mode as they prepared to fend off an attack on the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA) by conservative crime-fighting initiative specialist Kevin Mannix. But Mannix recently took the assault on OMMA off the table, at least for now, and Stanford and Martinez are ready to sail through the breach.

Organizers need 80,000 signatures to put the measure before voters in the November 2010 election. They say the measure will generate millions of dollars a year for the state's general fund through sales to adults. Additional revenues from pot taxes would go to drug treatment programs.

 

[~CH9~]

real cool....

 

[Tactical Farmer]

GO OREGON - Im far away but rooting for ya....

 

[JARofHERB]

Ive lived here in Oregon my whole life...Its going to pass for sure, I know it..
We here in Oregon were the first state in the U.S to Decrim..The culture has been entrenched here for 40 years in Oregon. I love it here, and its great we are finally going to move forward and evolve, and make millions of dollars for our state..

 

[Maj.PotHead]

here in Oregon were the first state in the U.S to Decrim..

wasnt cali the 1st state ???

right on Oregon go do it so the rest of the country will follow suite.

 

[Fuzz420]

If all goes well there in oregon im sure this is going to trickle down to other states and they may consider the same; especially after they see the increase in revenue for the state increasing. Good luck

 

[ScrogHog]

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/542/oregon_marijuana_tax_regulate_initiative


Marijuana: Oregon Initiative For Regulated Sales Starts Gathering Signatures
view translation
Printer Friendly Version Email this Articlefrom Drug War Chronicle, Issue #542, 7/11/08
Oregon has already decriminalized marijuana possession and enacted the second-largest state medical marijuana program in the country, and now some Oregon activists are ready to move to the next level. This week, signature gathering began for the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA), which would provide for marijuana to be sold in retail stores, among other things.

According to initiative sponsors, the act would provide for "regulating and taxing adult sales; licensing the cultivation of the drug for sale in state-run package stores and adults-only businesses; allowing adults to grow their own and farmers to grow industrial hemp without license; and letting doctors prescribe untaxed cannabis to patients suffering from a variety of illnesses and injuries."

The initiative effort is being led by D. Paul Stanford of the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH) and Madeline Martinez, head of Oregon NORML. Whether other elements of the state's sometimes fractious marijuana community will come on board remains to be seen.

Parts of the community had been in the defensive mode as they prepared to fend off an attack on the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA) by conservative crime-fighting initiative specialist Kevin Mannix. But Mannix recently took the assault on OMMA off the table, at least for now, and Stanford and Martinez are ready to sail through the breach.

Organizers need 80,000 signatures to put the measure before voters in the November 2010 election. They say the measure will generate millions of dollars a year for the state's general fund through sales to adults. Additional revenues from pot taxes would go to drug treatment programs.

Mass collected about the same amount if not more cause i think there are two signature collection periods. One more after they get the 80k but its only like 10k. Mass did it in under a year. Sounds like this will be on the ballot.

 

[guest5703]

Supporters have two years to collect nearly 83,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot in 2010.

Organizers need 80,000 signatures to put the measure before voters in the November 2010 election.

Soooo they got 3,000 sigs in 3 days????? Hell yea its gonna make it! This is gonna be exciting! Shit man really now, think about it! In 2015 weed is going to be legal. HOLY SHIT...HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT!!!!

I knew it would happen in my lifetime !!!!!! WOOOO HOOO!!! HOLY SHIT!!!! SO HAPPY!

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

It won't pass.

Remember, Portland and Eugene people don't turn out to vote like the rural communities and then there's the old people that have nothing better to do than ruin young peoples fun......... You get just a few miles outside the city and people talk about needing to start lynchings and put the mexicans in concentration camps. Seriously..... hillbilly shit. It's always promising but it never works out. It's about the only thing funding the sheriffs office. Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas County (tri county area).

Ohh and Oregon decriminalized possession of an ounce or less in 1972-73 and Cali and Alaska etc. did it in 1978. $500 ticket. But they still arrest you and take you to the Justice center if you've never been processed. The Multnomah County sheriffs run the jail and they beat the SHIT out of you.

 

[FarmerJoe]

Fuck I say do it. I live like 45 minutes from Oregon.

edit: To the above, its like that everywhere. Its the wild wild west

 

[KISE1]

Seriously..... hillbilly shit.

Hillbillies like weed too!

 

[ZeusOGrefugee]

sounds great, Im glad i moved to OR when I did!!!We'll see if this really happens, but imagine how great it would be....

 

[darrinjefferson]

i too have lived in oregon all my life. i am a medical patient and i support legalization.
if it passes it wont be by a lot. Even here there are many who would like to see it stay illegal.
its quite the mix.
i could see some problems with this idea.
to be honest I dont want to see raids on liquor stores happening by the DEA just so everyone over 21 can smoke weed. until those stop it doesnt matter.
hopefully Obama will win so that we can end the raids, then legalize!!
also there are racists and rednecks in every state, not only oregon.

just like KISE1 said, alot of hillbillies smoke weed too.

late

 

[Eli Bloom]

The only downside to this initiative is that all sales are run through state liquor stores; there is very little said about how the state will be buying pot. My hunch is the lowest bidder will get the deal. Who wants to buy government pot grown by the lowest bidder? At least it would allow the self-sufficient to grow their own with (state) impunity.

no dude, you can get various qualities of alcohol as well as different kinds (vodka, tequila, beer...) i'll be chillin top shelf