Oregon Legislature – A Hit and A Miss

Oregon Gov John Kitzhaber

Oregon Governor Kitzhaber has been getting a lot of press for his support of cannabis regulation.

In these exciting times, we are seeing more and more support for legalization across the country, and that is very good for all of us. NORML makes it easy to send a letter to Oregon representatives here.

For those of you who do not favor the idea of the legislature’s control over how legalization will look in Oregon, there are other possible answers out there, too.

You can find out about the Oregon Cannabis Amendment here. It would add an amendment to the Oregon State Constitution, that would provide legalization.

New Approach Oregon provides legalization and an outline for regulation, as does the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act. Like California and several other states, Oregon voters potentially have choices for how legalization can work.

Those of you from other states can find out what’s happening in your area here. It is more important than ever before to stand up and let our representatives know that they need to support marijuana legalization. We have the momentum, and we need to continue to push for our rights.

As our state legislature starts its short session, it is vital that we also watch out for bills like Senate Bill 1531, which would allow city and county governments to ban medical marijuana dispensaries within their jurisdictions.

Rules and regulations for medical dispensaries were recently finalized in Oregon. The state will start accepting applications from potential facilities the first week of March 2014. SB 1531 undermines the new law that makes dispensaries legal. It will allow the continuation of a dangerous black market and inhibit legal economic growth that the new cannabis industry can provide.

It comes as no surprise that this bill was created by law enforcement from Southern Oregon and other counties that have been disregarding Oregon’s medical marijuana law since its inception. There will be a protest and rally in Medford on March 6, 2014 to oppose this issue. Patients and supporters are urged to attend.

Other states are also seeking a short session for their state legislatures. Since the sky hasn’t fallen in Colorado or Washington, this is the perfect time to talk with your state representatives about legalization.

Oregonians, you can find your representatives here. If you can visit them in-person, please make an appointment to pay them a visit. If not, send an email; make a phone call. Legalization is on its way, and we need to make sure that our representatives know that we want it to happen now.