Pubdate: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 Source: Willamette Week (Portland, OR) Copyright: 2008 Willamette Week Newspaper Contact: http://www.wweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/499 Cited: Oregonians for Cannabis Reform http://www.cannabistaxact.org/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Madeline+Martinez Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Paul+Stanford Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Kevin+Mannix POT IN OREGON'S RETAIL STORES? Perhaps...if "Oregonians for Cannabis Reform" can gather 82,769 valid signatures by July 2010 to put such a measure on the state ballot for voters to consider. Petition co-organizers Madeline Martinez and Paul Stanford on Monday announced their proposal, which seeks to legalize cannabis sales to adults and industrial hemp growth in Oregon. The initiative would use the OLCC to regulate storage, distribution and growth of hemp and cannabis products, with Martinez and Stanford predicting a tax on cannabis sales would generate $300 million annually. OLCC spokeswoman Chrsitie Scott says the agency is neutral on the petition. But Kevin Mannix, who abandoned an initiative against medical marijuana earlier this year, isn't. "There is a slim-to-none chance this [proposal] would be upheld in federal court," Mannix says. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake