Category: Recovered

Oregon’s campaign to regulate, legalize and tax marijuana has won several new endorsements and released a new campaign commercial featuring an after-school program leader from Eugene.

Coinciding with the start of school, the latest 30-second campaign commercial, released today, features Mike Schwab, an after school program leader from Eugene.

“Under our current marijuana laws, one mistake can ruin a life,” he says in the video. “Measure 91 removes unfairly harsh punishments for marijuana offenses.” Measure 91 is projected to generate tens of millions of dollars in new revenue, and a 40 percent of it will go to schools.

For more than 35 years I’ve served Oregon as a trial judge, a Judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals and as a Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court. From that perspective, I can tell you it’s time for a better approach to marijuana in our state.Marijuana legalization is inevitable. I believe we need to do it with the most responsible approach possible. In fact, I voted against the marijuana legalization measure two years ago because I thought it was a flawed proposal. But I am voting Yes on 91. I’ve reviewed countless laws in my career and I have carefully read this proposal.

Measure 91 is carefully written to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older, and it’s the right way forward for our state.

Treating marijuana use as a crime has failed and has repercussions far beyond Oregon. Violent drug cartels in Mexico are driving a humanitarian crisis at our borders. The violence is due, in part, to illegal marijuana exports to the black market here. We can cut off the unlawful drug trafficking with a smart approach at home. Marijuana is an economic engine that fuels some gangs. This measure will move the money that funds gangs into the regulated, legitimate economy.

I can also tell you marijuana prohibition has bogged down our justice system. Last year, 13,408 people were arrested or cited for marijuana crimes in Oregon. That’s one person every 39 minutes, all of whom go through the justice system. In the last decade, more than 99,000 people have been arrested or cited for marijuana. That’s roughly the same as arresting or citing every person who lives in Albany and Tigard.

This November, Measure 91 is our chance to get it right. That’s why I’ll be voting yes.

I hope my fellow Oregonians will read the measure, give it careful thought and join me.

This information furnished by Richard William Riggs, Retired Justice Oregon Supreme Court.

Travel as a Political Act: Ending marijuana prohibition in Oregon

Rick Steves, one of America’s most respected travel authorities, is launching a 6-day, 10-city tour around Oregon to talk about travel and the need for marijuana reform in Oregon.

The Yes on 91 campaign will join him. On the November ballot, Measure 91 will regulate, legalize and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older.

In “Travel as a Political Act: Ending marijuana prohibition in Oregon,” Steves will share how travel has shown him how different societies tackle the same problems. Steves co-sponsored Washington’s successful ballot measure to regulate, legalize and tax marijuana. “One thing I’ve learned in 30 years of travel is that treating marijuana as a crime does not work,” he said. “A better approach is to regulate it, legalize it and tax it. I’m an advocate for better policy, and that’s what Oregon will get once Measure 91 passes.”

To RSVP, click here. Or find an event near you below.

*Wine and Cheese Meet and Greet, $250/person (Limited space, reserve tickets in advance online) **$10/person

There are many reasons why we need a new approach to marijuana in Oregon. It’s a waste of money and resources to lock up non-violent marijuana users. A legal, regulated system with taxes on marijuana will fund vital state services.

Another positive impact of marijuana regulation is that it will better protect our wilderness, parklands, farmland and forests.

Criminal growers with links to drug cartels hide their illegal operations on public lands. They don’t care how much damage is done to fragile habitats in national parks, state parks and wilderness areas.

Growing unregulated marijuana in natural areas destroys local ecosystems, by:

• Destroying native, fragile plant life and habitat; and
• Illegally diverting water from streams and creeks for irrigation, which in turn dries out water sources for fish and plants.

Indoor illegal marijuana growing can use a tremendous amount of energy. Some don’t follow the fire code or have access to energy conservation techniques or equipment. They won’t ask for help with solar panels and power-saving equipment, and have no incentive to do so.

Measure 91 will help reverse these unintended consequences.

Most importantly, a legal market will help drive criminal market cartel growers out of business. Marijuana will be grown by licensed individuals with no need to hide in our forests. There will be less need for resource-heavy indoor grows. Those who grow indoors can do so with the help of energy-saving equipment and conservation measures.

This November, we’ll be voting to regulate, legalize and tax marijuana. One of the reasons we’re voting ‘yes’ is to better protect our environment.

(This information furnished by Tara Sulzen.)

A regulated approach will more safely control marijuana.

The jobs of EMTs and firefighters are already treacherous enough. Illegal marijuana growing can make our job even tougher. That’s why we need a safer approach to controlling marijuana and why I am voting Yes on Measure 91.

A regulated approach to marijuana will cut down on illegal growing so that firefighters are safer.

You may know about illegal marijuana growing in our forests. But illegal growing operations also make our neighborhoods more dangerous. Illicit growers go to great lengths to hide their electricity consumption, including stealing electricity from others using dangerous homemade power lines that can easily catch fire. They set up in quiet neighborhoods like yours and mine so they don’t attract attention.

Measure 91 creates a system of legitimate businesses that would be treated like other businesses. They would:

• pay for proper electricity and professional installation;
• install sprinklers and adhere to fire code; and
• meet zoning standards and be located where they belong, not hidden away.

Illegal growing operations make the outdoors more dangerous. In training for wildland fires, we are warned of the dangers from large illegal growing in wildfire­infested areas. Because these operations are illegal, they are often protected by booby ­traps or arms, and firefighters are instructed to get away from them ­ even if it means walking away from a fire that needs our attention.

Measure 91 fights back against drug cartels so that they face competition with the regulated market and go out of business.

Let’s make our neighborhoods and wildlands safer by regulating, legalizing, and taxing marijuana. I’m a former EMT and volunteer firefighter, and I’m voting Yes on 91.

Brad Stewart, Nehalem

This information furnished by Bradley G Stewart.