Possible funding for schools, police with weed money

Wherever you go, Oregonians are starting to look at and evaluate the elephant in the room: They are forming their decision on marijuana legalization.

Both sides are in high gear preparing for the upcoming Nov. 4 vote. As stated on the Oregon general election ballot, Measure 91 would allow “possession, manufacture, sale of marijuana by/to adults, subject to state licensing, regulation, taxation.”

The result of a “yes” vote would allow people to legally sell, grow, possess, and smoke weed, as regulated by the state.

Voting “no” would keep marijuana illegal here.

The “No” on 91 side presents its case with five different points. According to Vote No on 91, people should reject Measure 91 because it has “no established driving rules for marijuana impairment, no legitimate way to regulate amount … no THC-potency testing requirements on marijuana grown or edibles sold, no packaging and labeling requirements on marijuana edibles … (and) no restrictions on marketing and advertising of marijuana edibles.”

If Measure 91 succeeds, the gist is that marijuana will be legalized for medical and recreational use for adults 21 and older.

According to Vote Yes on 91, tax revenue earned through Oregon’s recreational marijuana market would be divvied out to three different programs: 40 percent will go to schools, 35 percent will go to state and local police, and 25 percent will go to drug treatment, prevention, and mental health programs. According to Vote Yes on 91, it has been estimated that Oregon would generate $46 million to $80 million in new tax revenue in the first two years.

But critics of the measure, in arguments posted on the Oregon Secretary of State website, oregonvotes.gov, say a major issue when you look at the recreational marijuana market these days is that it is so inviting to kids. “Pot-laced candy, gummy bears, cotton candy, soda pop, cookies, and suckers” will be on store shelves if the measure passes, they claim.

“These ‘edibles’ are for adults, but kids are ending up in Emergency Rooms from eating mom and dad’s ‘candy’ “ in states such as Colorado and Washington that have already legalized marijuana, the critics say.

Supporters of Measure 91 respond that Oregon has learned from those states’ mistakes: By taxing marijuana less than Washington state does, there will not be as much of a black market here, they say.

For more measure coverage, click here.