Press Releases
Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Petitions Approved for Circulation 04-07-10
Drafted by: Kyndall Mason, , 503.927.0225
(Portland, OR) - The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA) is kicking off its signature-gathering effort at the OR NORML meeting at 700 NE Dekum this Saturday, April 10 at 10:00am. Petitions have just been approved for circulation by the Oregon Secretary of State's Office, and OCTA expects over 300 in attendance to be among the first to sign the petition for this monumental ballot measure.
Co-Chief Petitioner Madeline Martinez, Executive Director of OR NORML – a statewide chapter of a national organization working to legalize adult cannabis use – says that “OCTA will transform Oregon. We can capture at least $140 million for the General Fund annually to better our state for all Oregonians. That’s schools, roads, health care and many other public projects. Supporting OCTA is a no-brainer.”
OCTA will generate that $140 million by taxing commercial cannabis sales to adults 21 years of age and older. And $61.5 million will be saved annually as law enforcement’s attention can focus on dangerous and often violent crimes.
In addition to the revenue generated for the General Fund, the potential of industrial hemp for Oregon's economy is limitless as it will turn Oregon into a national leader in ecological innovation and sustainable jobs. “The entire hemp plant is useful, from its seeds which create a food source to its oil which can be made into bio-diesel to its stalks which can be woven into fabrics or turned into paper – hemp is the future, not just for Oregon, but for a sustainable planet,” says Paul Stanford, OCTA's other Co-Chief Petitioner and founder of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF), an organization which helps provide medical marijuana patients access to medicine.
The campaign will collect 125,000 signatures by July 2nd, 2010. This is a well-organized movement and the campaign has hired Democracy Resources, a Portland-based signature-gathering firm with a proven track record of success, to make sure the petition makes the ballot. The campaign has already raised more than half of the money needed to fund a paid signature gathering effort.
Along with the kick-off event on Saturday, the campaign will be traveling around Oregon between April 16th and April 24th with activist and artist John Trudell for a benefit concert series. The concerts will help OCTA with the signature-gathering effort and locations include Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene, Grants Pass, Portland and Redmond.
For more information on the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, as well as to make a donation and get involved, please visit cannabistaxact.org. Information can also be found at the OR NORML (www.ornorml.org) and THCF (www.thc-foundation.org/) websites.
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Oregon Supreme Court tosses challenge to Oregon Cannabis Tax Act ballot title 03/25/10
Drafted by: Kyndall Mason
, 503.927.0225
The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA) campaign learned today that the Oregon Supreme Court dismissed the only challenge to the OCTA ballot title. The challenge – filed by Bradley Benoit from the Beaverton area – was mired in an earlier comment regarding the summary explanation. The comment requested the summary of the measure describe in detail the fact that the Oregon Attorney General would be responsible for defending Oregonians, and the law itself, should there be a federal case. This comment was addressed and the Attorney General included Benoit's comments in the revised certified ballot title. In an attempt to stall the signature gathering effort Benoit filed a supreme court challenge to the title stating his comments were not fully addressed. This decision from the Oregon Supreme Court sends a clear message to Benoit that his concerns were adequately addressed in the certified title released after the comment period.
This decision also marks a pivotal step forward in the process to collect signatures on a ballot measure that will end prohibition on adult marijuana use and industrial hemp. A monumental ballot measure like this will send millions to the state general fund for state programs, including Department of Human Resources and public schools and jump start an industry that will make Oregon a national leader in ecological innovation and sustainable jobs. Chief Petitioners on the measure include Madeline Martinez, and D. Paul Stanford.
The campaign has started a sweeping pledge effort in the last few weeks to garner support for and awareness of OCTA and the challenge to the ballot title. This pledge effort will translate into signatures for the petition. The chief petitioners will need to gather 125,000 signatures by July 2, 2010, to secure a spot on the November 2010 ballot. Templates for petition circulation will be finalized in the next 10 business days.
In the words of Paul Stanford, “Now is the time to end senseless prohibition, increase access for medical patients and open Oregon to an international market of hemp production, creating jobs and sustainable industry here.”
For more information on the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act visit: cannabistaxact.org
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Certified Ballot Title: Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 02/02/2010
Oregonians for Cannabis Reform have finished gathering the 1000 sponsorship signatures needed for the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2010 (OCTA) petition. These were turned in to the Oregon Secretary of State's office on September 21, 2009. The Office of the Secretary of State received a certified ballot title from the Attorney General on February 2, 2010, for initiative #73, proposing a statutory amendment, for the General Election of November 2, 2010. In addition, Secretary of State Kate Brown determined that the proposed initiative petition was in compliance with the procedural requirements established in the Oregon Constitution for initiative petitions.
The certified ballot title is as follows:
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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.
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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.
Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Full Text http://cannabistaxact.org/content/oregon-cannabis-tax-act-full-text
