Oregon: House Approves Bill Setting Up Legal Marijuana Market
Submitted by steveelliott on Thu, 06/25/2015 - 22:33 2015 ann lininger associated press bill post lake oswego Legalization lew frederick Measure 91 Oregon oregon health authority oregon house oregon legislature Political Prohibition Recreational salem sheila kumar
By Steve Elliott
Hemp News
Oregon House lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill 52-4 setting up the state's legal marijuana market after voters approved legalization under Measure 91 last November. The bill, HB 3400, now heads to the Oregon Senate.
The bill creates regulations for both medical and recreational cannabis, including a compromise allowing local jurisdictions to "opt out" of legalization, reports Sheila Kumar at the Associated Press. Members of a House joint committee charged with implementing Measure 91 had previously been unable to agree on the issue of local control, stalling the measure for weeks.
Counties or cities that voted against Measure 91 can choose to ban cannabis sales if at least 55 percent of their residents opposed the ballot measure in last November's election. Other counties would have to put banning pot sales to a vote.
"I did not support Measure 91," said clueless Rep. Bill Post (R-Keizer). "I am voting for this bill because it allows local jurisdictions to prohibit the sale of this drug."
The bill also creates a marijuana tracking system, so bureaucrats can trace weed from seed to sale in order to keep it out of the black market. The Oregon Health Authority would be in charge of creating and maintaining a database tracking the path of marijuana to market.
The bill requires grow sites to register and submit information on how much cannabis is processed and transferred every month.
"We want to help local businesses be successful in this legal market," said Rep. Ann Lininger (D-Lake Oswego), who carried the bill. "We want to reduce illegal activity and transactions that are not in accordance with these laws. We want to keep kids and communities safe."
The measure, which reduces penalties for some cannabis offenses, will bring the criminal statutes in line with the reality of marijuana's legality, according to Geoff Sugerman, lobbyist for the Oregon Cannabis PAC. HB 3400 also would expunge many marijuana-related convictions, benefiting tens of thousands of Oregonians, according to Sugerman.
“The so-called war on drugs has devastated communities across this country,” said Rep. Lew Frederick (D-Portland). "With the experience of Prohibition behind us, we should know better, but instead we fill prisons and break up families over this drug."
Recreational marijuana possession and consumption become legal in Oregon on July 1.
steveelliott's blog
