It is long past time for Oregon to end the prohibition on marijuana.
In 1973, Oregon decriminalized marijuana possession. Opponents predicted all manner of dire consequences. They were never realized.
In 1998, our state regulated medical marijuana cultivation and possession. Again, opponents predicted harm would come to our children, roadways, and workplaces. The harms never materialized.
Prohibition never works. In the 1920s, anyone who wanted a drink could get one. Gangs distributed booze and ran speakeasies. Organized crime was rampant; people got shot in the streets.
Today, one in nine Oregon adults is consuming marijuana grown and sold by cartels, criminals, and kids.
We can end Prohibition again by voting for the responsible marijuana regulations proposed by Measure 91. By removing marijuana from the workload of cops and courts, we free up more time and money to combat actual crime. By regulating and taxing the already existing marijuana market, we will turn an underground economy into one that benefits all Oregonians.
Measure 91 will give police 35% and drug treatment 25% of its revenues. The remaining 40% will go to our schools. Estimates of revenues from Oregon’s marijuana market vary, but whatever the actual figure becomes, it will be infinitely more revenue than we collect on marijuana now.
While benefitting schools financially, Measure 91 also benefits kids by placing the marijuana market in secure, adults-only stores where IDs are checked. In Colorado, they’ve found this practice reduced regular teen marijuana use rates even as national rates increased. Colorado teens also have more difficulty getting marijuana than the national average. Regulation works!
Measure 91 maintains our strict drugged driving standards that have contributed to our safest traffic statistics even while having over 64,000 medical marijuana patients. Freeways in Colorado and Washington are the safest ever as well, with fatality rates far below national averages.
Say no to criminals running the marijuana market, spoiling our national forests, and selling to our kids. Vote Yes on Measure 91.
