This section of the site was created to keep people informed with related coverage and educate voters on on the story of cannabis. It will continue to grow and evolve daily.

Marijuana initiative would allow pot sales at Ore. liquor stores

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.

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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.

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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 old.

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.

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Group Trying To Legalize, Tax Pot In Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A group is collecting signatures to get an initiative put on the ballot in 2010 that would allow the state of Oregon to sell marijuana in stores like they do cigarettes.

Monday, the group, called Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, started getting signatures for the Cannabis Tax Act.

The campaign needs 82,769 valid signatures to get the proposal on the November 2010 ballot. Their deadline for the signatures is July 2010.

The group said a tax on those stores could put millions of dollars into the state's general fund.


In the group's plan, part of the money would also go into drug treatment programs.

One supporter asked about the proposal said it makes more sense for the state to take in money through regulation than to spend money on prosecution.

"I think it's a bit of a waste of time spending that much money on prosecuting people that are basically not hurting anybody else besides themselves," supporter Alan Tinsley said.

But not everyone was in support of the proposal.

"Society is already going away from, you know, doing what's right and laws. Why make one more thing OK when it's hurting others?" critic Shelby Ulrich said.

The proposal would allow people age 21 and older to buy marijuana at the stores with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission managing the program.

The stores would get the marijuana from people licensed by the OLCC.

Some of those licensed pot growers would also supply medical marijuana for cardholders.

In addition to marijuana, the plan would allow people to grow hemp.

Supporters said the proposal could generate up to $300 million per year.

They said they think the state would also get an additional $50 million annually in increased tourism.