Marijuana initiative would allow pot sales at Oregon liquor stores
Portland’s local ABC affiliate, KATU…
Marijuana initiative would allow pot sales at Ore. liquor stores | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | News
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.
There is an online poll at www.KATU.com and at www.KOIN.com asking if you support the measure. Everybody (except ED) go on to the sites and click a “YES” for us!
More news coverage after the jump…
Portland’s local NBC affiliate (KGW)…
Supporters push to sell marijuana in retail stores
PORTLAND, Ore. – Supporters of marijuana legalization kicked off a signature campaign Monday which proposes redirecting money into Oregon’s general fund by allowing marijuana to be sold in retail stores.
The initiative petition is called the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2010.
OCTA proposes to redirect millions of dollars annually into Oregon’s general fund through the sale of marijuana to adults over 21 years of age.
The OLCC would be tasked with managing the program, which would license approved individuals to cultivate the product for sale. A portion of the marijuana grown would also be directed to registered cardholders in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, supporters said.
A portion of the taxes collected would go to drug treatment.
In addition, the initiative would permit cultivation of industrial hemp, which could quickly become Oregon’s largest cash crop, according to supporters.
Supporters estimate that revenue generated by state-controlled cannabis sales could easily reach $300 million annually. In addition, tourism and related activities would generate at least $50 million annually, they estimate.
Campaign organizers plan to gather a minimum of 82,769 valid signatures by the deadline of 5 p.m. on July 2, 2010. If the measure is certified by the Secretary of State, it will be presented to Oregonians for a vote in November of 2010.
Portland’s local CBS affiliate (KOIN)
Cannabis Act initiative signature-gathering begins
PORTLAND - Could hemp become Oregon’s largest cash crop? Supporters of the Oregon Cannabis Act of 2010 (OCTA) hope so.
Monday kicked off the signature campaign to get the initiative on the ballot in November 2010. The initiative would allow growth of industrial hemp to be used for clothing, food, fuel and even plastics.
It would also allow retail sale of marijuana to those 21 and older.
Supporters say hemp is in great demand but can’t be grown under current law. They estimate revenue generated by state-controlled Cannabis sales could easily reach $300 million annually.
Oregon Liquor Control Commission would monitor sales.
The group needs close to 83,000 signatures by July of 2010 to get the initiative on the ballot and let voters decide.
A similar initiative was introduced twice in the 1990s but failed to get the signatures to make it on the ballot.
Tags: KATU, KGW, KOIN, KPTV, OCTA, Oregon, Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, Portland
July 7th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Damn you sheep. All I can to is to try to talk sense. This is a democracy, and that is the flaw of democracy. All you have to do is learn how to manipulate the masses of people, then it is an oligarchy, once again. Much money and effort has been spent learning how to manipulate you, and the science is very advanced, now.
I teach my children that Americans are dumber than farm animals. Your rights are being hacked away in large chunks, now. You are truly domesticated and can be easily manipulate by Big Money. What a bunch of chumps. That is how we end up with <> like George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George Bush’s <> son holding the highest office in this country, and the likes of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain as the only serious contenders for the next election. None of these people are worthy of that office. You Americans are destroying your own freedom. You are crying out for more oppression. You are not worthy of the freedom that your ancestors paid for with their blood. I fear for the world that may confront my children in their adult lives.
This is my opinion.
You should be suspicious that the media is supporting this legislation.
I usually try to remind my children that your stupidity is the result of many decades of subtle psychological manipulation that surrounds you in your daily life, not some innate lack of ability. There is hope for you. But, you have to put your damn pipe down and get serious about what is happening around you.
Here, get this FREE copy of Edward Bernays’ book, “Propaganda”. Read it. Then get “Taking the Risk out of Democracy,” by Alex Carey, and read that. Sorry, this one you have to purchase.
Then try to not elect such worthless scumbags and whores of the globalist fascist “elite” to run your government.
-ED
July 7th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Something appears to be out of sync with your forum software.
-ED
July 7th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Why not? They have been peddling Alcohol to us for generations. Destroying jobs, marriages, families and health. They peddle cigarettes to us to kill and mutilate our bodies, destroy our familys and ruin our jobs and medical system; all to empower the tobacco and alcohol business and rake in taxes, provide subsidies and ruin our world. Hell, marijuana only makes people friendly. I’m so sick of hearing the old “we dont need another problem” aholes. Theyre the ones smoking the cigarettes and drinking the alcohol and destroying our culture..Make DUII a felony and selling cigarettes to minors a felony.
It’s time to get real
I’m all for POT
July 9th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I will definitely sign this petition. Hell, I may even volunteer to get others to sign it. I know plenty of people, and I mean plenty, that would be very happy to see a bill like this passed. However, I am a cynic, especially where the government is involved. How much are they going to charge? Will it be any good? Will it be easy to buy, or is it going to be something where you have to put your name on a list or something?
I have always held forth in favor of legalization. Alcohol is legal, and it’s way worse than pot. If I drink even a couple beers, I feel like crap the next day, let alone how much of an ass I probably am when I’m drunk. MJ, on the other hand, leaves me feeling fine and acting fine, although maybe a little on the slow side for a few hours, but it passes quickly with no after affect. It’s lovely!! Some people drink, I like to smoke. We should be allowed our preferences for our recreational activities. I am in no way condoning the use of other drugs that destroy, only kind, peaceful, natural marijuana.
I trully believe that the government needs to totally raise the ban on it. Not just portions of it. MJ was illegalized only because of racism and taxation issues in the first place. Get over it and legalize it!!!
July 10th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
The drug , alcohol and tobacco companies invented these ” drug testing kits ” because alcoholic consumption would decrease with more people smoking weed , the pharmacuetical companies would sell less prescription drugs and tobacco companies would loose because smokers generally smoke less tobacco after smoking marijuana & more when they drink . This is why you test positive for M.J. and nothing shows up for alcohol , prescription drugs or tobacco ( nicotine ) .
Recently we had a sweep here of grows in Humboldt & not a gun shot was heard nor were there any fights . There were no arrests and the IRS was involved . M.J. is almost legal here and the Government won’t admit it but , they want their taxes . The peacefullness of these ” shut down the grow ” operations shows you how peaceful the growing of M.J. really is .