Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Given the unevenness of Oregonians' vote to make recreational marijuana legal in the state - Measure 91 was defeated in every county east of the Cascades save Deschutes - lawmakers gave local officials a chance to opt out. As a result, the November ballots in the cities of La Pine and Madras and in unincorporated Jefferson County will give voters a chance to say no to weed in a variety of ways.
Before voting to ban marijuana, however, county and city residents should think about a couple of things.
First, marijuana, both for medicinal and recreational purposes, is legal in Oregon, so much so that cannabis is considered an agricultural product by the state, right along with carrot seed and Christmas trees.
Jefferson County's measures would prevent growing, processing, wholesaling and retailing of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes. Crook County also banned recreational marijuana, but it did so in 2015, meaning no referendum on the decision must be held.
Madras, too, would ban all recreational marijuana production activities, and it and La Pine would ban recreational retail sales of weed. Both allow the sale of medical marijuana.
Yet even the bans would not prevent anyone who wanted it from getting marijuana. Individuals who want to grow their own for medical purposes would still be able to do so, and individuals who want to grow for their own recreational could do so as well.
Too, weed is legal in Redmond, Sisters and Bend. If the purpose of supporting a ban is to stamp out the production and use of marijuana in this part of Oregon, it's an effort that already has failed.
Yet a ban has consequences. Perhaps most important, cities and counties that impose bans on weed deprive themselves of a share of the state taxes collected on sales of the stuff. To date, the state has collected over $25.5 million in taxes, 10 percent of which will go to cities and 10 percent of which will go to counties.
Like it or not, marijuana is here to stay. Voters in Jefferson County, Madras and La Pine need not use marijuana nor allow it on their property. Nor should they prevent neighbors from doing things that are legal nearby. The bans should be rejected.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Editorial - Reject Pot Bans
Author: Staff
Contact: 541-382-1811
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: The Bulletin
Before voting to ban marijuana, however, county and city residents should think about a couple of things.
First, marijuana, both for medicinal and recreational purposes, is legal in Oregon, so much so that cannabis is considered an agricultural product by the state, right along with carrot seed and Christmas trees.
Jefferson County's measures would prevent growing, processing, wholesaling and retailing of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes. Crook County also banned recreational marijuana, but it did so in 2015, meaning no referendum on the decision must be held.
Madras, too, would ban all recreational marijuana production activities, and it and La Pine would ban recreational retail sales of weed. Both allow the sale of medical marijuana.
Yet even the bans would not prevent anyone who wanted it from getting marijuana. Individuals who want to grow their own for medical purposes would still be able to do so, and individuals who want to grow for their own recreational could do so as well.
Too, weed is legal in Redmond, Sisters and Bend. If the purpose of supporting a ban is to stamp out the production and use of marijuana in this part of Oregon, it's an effort that already has failed.
Yet a ban has consequences. Perhaps most important, cities and counties that impose bans on weed deprive themselves of a share of the state taxes collected on sales of the stuff. To date, the state has collected over $25.5 million in taxes, 10 percent of which will go to cities and 10 percent of which will go to counties.
Like it or not, marijuana is here to stay. Voters in Jefferson County, Madras and La Pine need not use marijuana nor allow it on their property. Nor should they prevent neighbors from doing things that are legal nearby. The bans should be rejected.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Editorial - Reject Pot Bans
Author: Staff
Contact: 541-382-1811
Photo Credit: Reuters
Website: The Bulletin
