BY DOMINIC LÓPEZ
With each new generation, there is hope that a new approach can fix an out-of-date, broken way of doing things. Students, young professionals and new homemakers overwhelmingly support the end of marijuana prohibition. Let’s put the drug dealers out of business, stop the unjust arrests, and raise some money for vital resources that serve all of us. This November, young Oregonians and communities of color need to stand up and be heard- with our voices and our ballots- by voting yes on Measure 91.
We cannot afford to have our history written for us. Every 39 minutes another Oregonian becomes a victim of our failed laws. People of color, like me, are disproportionately targeted. It perpetuates a cycle of oppression; clouding our futures and shaming our present. Black people in Oregon are more than twice as likely to be arrested for marijuana-related crimes as whites; in some counties it is 3.5-times the rate of white people. That’s despite equal rates of use across racial demographics.
Every year we wait means more lives disrupted. A criminal citation for a mistake made when you’re young follows you for a long time. It’s easy for a landlord, bank or potential employer to find a marijuana offense on your record. We need to stop burdening people with this harsh punishment for a non-violent crime.
It’s up to us to shine a light on marijuana prohibition and the harm it does. We need to make this a public conversation with our parents and our families. Break the status quo of bad science. Turn the myths upside down. One day, I will have a real conversation with my kids about responsible marijuana use instead of pretending it’s something only for people on the outside of regular society. Part of the money raised by Measure 91 is required to go to drug education programs to arm people with the knowledge the need. Those programs barely exist now, and if they do they are terribly underfunded. We can change that by voting yes on Measure 91.
Colorado and Washington chose a new approach to marijuana first. We look to their experiences for guidance. As a result, our initiative is the gold standard to regulate, legalize and tax marijuana. It would mean money guaranteed for K-12 education. Classrooms in Beaverton, the same ones where I was taught not long ago, will be less crowded.
I am 23 years old. I know a lot of people think twenty-somethings like me are fickle voters. Not this time, my friends. This is our world too, and we can shape it. We have an opportunity this November to be on the right side of history.
Marijuana prohibition is an injustice. It’s apparent when we count the thousands of arrests and citations each year, the wasted police resources, and the millions of dollars in potential revenue lost. Winning means safety through regulation, more money for our state, and an end to unjust incarceration. Get registered, and cast your ballot. Let our voice be heard. It is time for a new approach.
Dominic López is the Metro Regional Organizer for Yes On 91.