Reform

Oregon has a rich history of protecting personal freedoms and implementing forward thinking policy. Reformation of our current cannabis laws is in line with Oregon sensibilities.

According to a June 2005 Harvard study by Jeffrey Miron, Oregon spends $61.5 million annually on enforcing current, out-of-date cannabis laws, diverting police energy away from violent and often repeat offenders. Reform will prioritize resources more appropriately.

Surveys conducted by the RAND Corps Public Safety and Justice in 2002, the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2006 and the National Research Council Committee for Data and Research Policy on Illegal Drug in 2008 all conclude that cannabis is NOT a gateway drug. Of the 113,275,000 nationally reported cannabis users, only 2,685,000 (2 percent) went on to use cocaine and only 153,000 (0.1 percent) went on to use heroine.

Revenue

An estimated $300 million will be generated annually for Oregon General Fund, helping to pay for education, health care, and other state services. This revenue is gained by taxing commercial cannabis sales and deregulating the hemp industry.

Industrial hemp has the power to revolutionize Oregon’s ecology and economy. Bio-diesel, paper/plastic products and food are just a few commodities that come from hemp. A 2000 report by the US Department of Agriculture states that Americans purchased 35,000 pounds of Canadian hemp in 1999, and that number has certainly grown with hemp’s popularity over the past eleven years.

This initiative will create jobs and sustainable industry. It’s time for Oregon to stop enforcing out-of-date prohibition-style laws and tap into the ecological and economical possibilities of cannabis and hemp.

Regulate

Currently, an unregulated market controls all aspects of the cannabis industry, which means anyone of any age can buy or sell it. Regulation puts Oregonians in control.

Current medical marijuana and DUII laws will still remain intact and irresponsible cannabis users will face serious consequences. By regulating the commercial market Oregon will thrive.

In-school survey data from 2007 reveals that 37.4 percent of eighth graders, 69 percent of tenth graders and 83.9 percent of twelfth graders report that cannabis is “easy to get.” Regulating the sale and distribution of cannabis will dramatically reduce those numbers.