About
The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, would set aside two percent of the profits from the sale of cannabis in cannabis-only stores for two state commissions that promote industrial hemp biodiesel, fiber, protein and oil.
It will also legalize the sale, possession and personal private cultivation of marijuana. People who want to cultivate and sell marijuana, or process commercial psychoactive cannabis, would be required to obtain a license from the state. Adults could grow their own marijuana and the sale of all cannabis strains' seeds and starter plants would be legalized with no license, fee nor registration. The profits from the sale of cannabis to adults will add hundreds of millions into the state general fund as well as drug treatment and education.
This simple plant, cannabis, can be put to use as medicine, recreation, fiber, fuel, delicious and nutritious food, among many other things. It would fill so many needs and put Oregon on a path toward sustainability. Our forward-thinking attitude toward hemp and cannabis would create jobs, revitalize our farming communities, boost tourism, and create millions of dollars in revenue for the state. If you don't know much about cannabis, we urge you to take the time to learn about the plant.
In order to be successful, this mission will require key assistance from volunteers across Oregon. Please tell ten friends about OCTA 2010 and get involved! We will soon begin circulating the petition across Oregon. We will need 83,000 valid signatures by July, 2, 2010 to qualify for the November ballot.
The certified ballot title is as follows:
Permits personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to regulate commercial marijuana cultivation/sale
Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote permits state-licensed marijuana (cannabis) cultivation/sale to adults through state stores; permits unlicensed adult personal cultivation/use; prohibits restrictions on hemp (defined).
Result of a "No" Vote: "No" vote retains existing civil and criminal laws prohibiting cultivation, possession and delivery of marijuana; retains current statues that permit regulated use of medical marijuana.
Summary: Currently, marijuana cultivation, possession and delivery are prohibited; regulated medical marijuana use permitted. Measure replaces state, local marijuana laws except medical marijuana and driving under the influence laws; distinguishes "hemp" from "marijuana"; prohibits regulation of hemp. Creates agency to license marijuana cultivation by qualified persons and to purchase entire crop. Agency sells marijuana at cost to pharmacies, medical research facilities, and to qualified adults for profit through state stores. Ninety percent of net proceeds goes to state general fund, remainder to drug education, treatment, hemp promotion. Bans sales to, possession by minors. Bans public consumption except where signs permit, minors barred. Agency to regulate use, set prices, other duties; Attorney General to defend against federal challenges/prosecution. Provides penalties. Effective January 1, 2011; other provisions.
Download Petition
Welcome to the OCTA 2010 Download Petition page. The petition is not in circulation yet, it will be available within the coming weeks. We are establishing this page now to give individuals a chance to become familiar with the election process before we begin circulation. In order to be successful, this mission will require key assistance from volunteers across the Oregon. We will need 83,000 valid signatures by July, 2, 2010 to qualify for the November ballot.
If you would like to get involved in the movement, simply fill out our volunteer form or start a hemp advocacy group in your community and make your voice heard! Please share this information with ten friends!
Petition Information:
Thank you for your interest in the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA). Please read and follow these instructions very carefully and precisely. The petition you will soon be able to download is ONLY a volunteer petition. If you want to get paid for gathering signatures, we may have jobs available in late summer; call our office at (503) 235-4606 for details.
Only registered Oregon voters may sign. Following these instructions carefully will ensure that you meet the state of Oregon's requirements, so your signatures count. Remember, the OCTA petition is a state document and the copy you make from this web page must be exactly like those approved by the Oregon Secretary of State's office, or the signatures won't be valid.
State of Oregon Petition Requirements:
The signature sheet must have the cover sheet with the ballot-title box printed upon the same sheet of paper. The signature sheet must be printed out using only a laser printer or an ink jet printer with waterproof ink, set on the best resolution possible, with 20-pound white bond paper measuring 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches (standard office paper), and black ink only. The signature sheet must be printed on the back of the cover sheet. You must carry a copy of the text of the petition while gathering signatures.
Any signatures gathered on petition sheets that do not meet the Oregon Secretary of State's specifications will be disqualified!
To print our petitions you must download the three files below from this site using Acrobat software. The petition will load automatically in Acrobat when you click to download the files below. If you can't download or print these files, please use our contact form or call our office at (503) 235-4606 to have us send you petition forms via the U.S. Postal Service.
This is a 10 Signature Oregon Petition that consists of three files. Once again, the Cover Sheet (03-cover-sheet-template.pdf) must be printed on the back of the Signature Sheet (02-signature-sheet-template.pdf). These two files must be printed on a single double-sided sheet of paper and you must have a copy of the text with you when petitioning.
Available Now: Download the text of OCTA 2010 http://cannabistaxact.org/downloads/01-octa2010text-circulator-informati...
Available Soon: Download the Petition's Signature Sheet http://cannabistaxact.org/downloads/02-signature-sheet-template.pdf for the front of the Petition
Available Soon: Download Cover Sheet http://cannabistaxact.org/downloads/03-cover-sheet-template.pdf for the back of the Petition
Please mail your petition(s) back to us as soon as possible. We will turn in our signatures as early as we can. There are 10 signature lines on the petitions, but you do not have to fill the entire sheet unless you so desire.
Mail petitions to: Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Headquarters
5220 North East Sandy Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97213
Coming Soon: SIGNATURE SHEET | COVER SHEET
WHERE TO SIGN
Regulation and Reform
Regulation and Reform work. Currently, billions of dollars are being spent by our government and various lobbying groups to keep prohibition alive and well. Because of this an unregulated market controls pricing and sales of a plant that generates billions in profits, all of which is untaxed. It is naïve to believe that keeping cannabis illegal keeps the government out of the process. Government hands are all over this cash crop, but few people in this country reap any benefits. Regulating the commercial sale of cannabis while at the same time allowing personal growing creates a system for all Oregonians to benefit, even those who chose not to buy cannabis from the state or use it at all.
In an unregulated market anyone can purchase cannabis and prices are set by those in charge of the racketeering. Regulation drives the overall cost down while at the same time making it harder for those under 21 to obtain cannabis. Considering the revenue for state programs and the safety it creates for our youth, it is hard to understand why we have not made the move to regulate cannabis already. Reform of our current laws is the only way to move forward in Oregon.
Tax dollars should be used to pay for schools, health care and transportation not the 4' x 6' cell of a non-violent offender. Reform will free up tax dollars and precious public safety resources. Over time, reform will change the public opinion people have of cannabis; the social stigma that folks cling to now will fall away. Farmers cannot even grow hemp because the government categorizes hemp and cannabis under the same umbrella, which is only testament to their lack of knowledge regarding the plant. Elected officials, farmers and the medical industry see the benefits of this crop. It is time for Oregon to have laws that reflect commonsense and logical ideals.
Revenue
Revenue generated by the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA) is three fold. The initial cash flow will be generated by the adult commercial sale of cannabis in retail stores in Oregon. This alone will create millions in revenue for the Oregon General Fund because 90 percent of the profits go directly to the General Fund. The chart below displays how the fund works. The remainder of the profits are set aside for drug treatment and education as well as setting up a state level committee for the promotion of industrial hemp. Hemp is the second tier of income from OCTA.
Hemp is by far one of the most useful plants on the planet. This is a plant that makes paper, fabric, bio-diesel, plastics, building materials and the bi-product is healthy food. No wonder logging, tobacco and coffee have been opposed to legalization for so long. Hemp will become Oregon's next cash crop. When you consider the fact that one acre of hemp can produce three times more paper than an acre of the most paper producing tree it seems silly to use trees for paper at all. Oregon will see jobs in the sustainable industry sky rocket as we become a national leader for sensible legislation. The third tier of revenue for Oregon comes from the redirection of funds saved by ending prohibition.
According to a Harvard study by Jeffery Miron, Oregon spends $61.5 million dollars enforcing out-of-date cannabis and hemp laws. Imagine redirecting that funding to schools, healthcare or solving real crimes!
For comparison sake; Oregon's lucrative micro-brew industry contributes $2.2 billion to the state annually. Imagine what cannabis and hemp will contribute to this state. It's time to move forward in Oregon and capture revenue that is already out there, not tax the middle class while dangling schools and public safety over our heads.
