Is Legalizing Marijuana a Good Idea for Oregon?
Gabby Garcia
WR122
3 December 2012
Essay 3: Rebuttal
Is Legalizing Marijuana a Good Idea for Oregon?
In the 2012 Oregon general election Oregonians narrowly defeated Ballot Measure 80, The Oregon Cannabis Act when 55 percent of registered voters voted no. Measure 80 would have allowed unlicensed adults the right to personal cultivation, and use of marijuana as well as allow commercial marijuana cultivation and sale to adults through state-licensed stores. Currently, marijuana cultivation, possession, and delivery are prohibited except for approved medical conditions. After the election The Oregonian newspaper published an editorial written by The Oregonian Editorial Board stating Oregon lawmakers should legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
The first reason why the editorial board believes recreational marijuana use should be legalized in Oregon is that Washington approved a similar measure when it passed Initiative 502 (I-502) which allows people 21 and older to purchase up to an ounce of marijuana at a time. Washington’s liquor control board will adopt rules by the end of 2013 that establishes regulations for the production, processing, distribution, and taxation of marijuana. The Editorial Board believes that the passing of I-502 will create a literal open road for Oregonians to drive across the border to purchase marijuana and return. The results are that Washington will collect millions of dollars in new “sin” taxes, Oregon will have an outflow of money, and Washington will have an increase in tax revenue at Oregon’s expense.
The second reason the Board feels marijuana should be legalized is that legalization would not be such a radical idea. Oregon already has the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program which allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The final reason the Editorial Board believes Oregon should legalize marijuana is that if it does not pass some further type of legislation to legalized its use, voters
WR122
3 December 2012
Essay 3: Rebuttal
Is Legalizing Marijuana a Good Idea for Oregon?
In the 2012 Oregon general election Oregonians narrowly defeated Ballot Measure 80, The Oregon Cannabis Act when 55 percent of registered voters voted no. Measure 80 would have allowed unlicensed adults the right to personal cultivation, and use of marijuana as well as allow commercial marijuana cultivation and sale to adults through state-licensed stores. Currently, marijuana cultivation, possession, and delivery are prohibited except for approved medical conditions. After the election The Oregonian newspaper published an editorial written by The Oregonian Editorial Board stating Oregon lawmakers should legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
The first reason why the editorial board believes recreational marijuana use should be legalized in Oregon is that Washington approved a similar measure when it passed Initiative 502 (I-502) which allows people 21 and older to purchase up to an ounce of marijuana at a time. Washington’s liquor control board will adopt rules by the end of 2013 that establishes regulations for the production, processing, distribution, and taxation of marijuana. The Editorial Board believes that the passing of I-502 will create a literal open road for Oregonians to drive across the border to purchase marijuana and return. The results are that Washington will collect millions of dollars in new “sin” taxes, Oregon will have an outflow of money, and Washington will have an increase in tax revenue at Oregon’s expense.
The second reason the Board feels marijuana should be legalized is that legalization would not be such a radical idea. Oregon already has the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program which allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The final reason the Editorial Board believes Oregon should legalize marijuana is that if it does not pass some further type of legislation to legalized its use, voters
Cited: Berdahl, Laurie D. "A Dangerous Sham: Marijuana Misconceptions Affect Personal, Economic Health." Medical Economics, 10 July 2012: 70+. Academic OneFile. Web. 12 Nov. Doherty, Elaine E., et al. "Does Heavy Adolescent Marijuana Use Lead to Criminal Involvement in Adulthood? Evidence from a Multiwave Longitudinal Study of Urban African Americans." Drug and Alcohol Dependence 112.1-2 (2010): 117+.Academic OneFile. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Labhart,Thad, and Eric Martin. "2011 Oregon Research Brief on Addiction Treatment Effectiveness."Oregontreatmentworks.org. Oregon Treatment Works, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. Oregon Chiefs of Police Association and Oregon Sheriff 's PAC. “Measure 80” Voters’ Pamphlet Oregon General Election. Salem: n.p., 6 Nov 2012. Print. ScienceDaily. "Marijuana Use Takes Toll on Adolescent Brain Function, Research Finds." Science Daily. ScienceDaily, 15 Oct. 2008. Web. 27 Nov. 2012 The Oregonian Editorial Board. “Oregon Lawmakers Should Take Up Marijuana Legalization.” Oregonlive.com. The Oregonian, 7 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.