Pubdate: Mon, 27 Oct 2014
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2014 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Noelle Crombie

JEFF MERKLEY FIRST U.S. SENATOR TO SUPPORT LEGALIZING POT

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley plans to vote for Measure 91, which would 
legalize marijuana for recreational use in Oregon, making him the 
first U.S. senator to do so, according to Talking Points Memo.

"I lean in support of it," the Democratic senator told Sahil Kapur, 
TPM's senior congressional reporter last week. (Oregonian senior 
political reporter Jeff Mapes reported on Merkley's stance earlier this month.)

"I think folks on both sides of the argument make a good case," 
Merkley said. "And there is concern about a series of new products - 
and we don't have a real track record from Colorado and Washington. 
But I feel on balance that we spend a lot of money on our criminal 
justice system in the wrong places and I lean in favor of this ballot measure."

Other marijuana news worth a look this morning:

Mark Kleiman, the chief pot consultant to Washington, chimed in last 
week with his take on Oregon's legalization measure. Bottom line: 
Measure 91 is imperfect and, if passed, should be fixed by the Oregon 
Legislature, but it's worth a yes vote.

Of the measure's shortcomings, Kleiman writes:

Measure 91 does not reflect a sophisticated understanding of the 
problems of illicit markets or a nuanced view about substance use 
disorder. Focusing on the goal of eradicating the illicit cannabis 
market in Oregon, it doesn't pay enough attention to the risk that 
Oregon might become a source of illicit supply to neighboring states. 
Focusing exclusively on preventing use by minors, it neglects the 
risk of increasing dependency among adults.

The basic fact about a legal cannabis market is that the product will 
be remarkably cheap to grow; once competition and industrial-style 
production have taken effect, a legal joint would cost (before tax) 
about what a tea-bag costs, rather than the illegal or 
medical-dispensary price, which is 100 times as high. And the tax 
provided for in Measure 91 would add only about 50 cents to the price 
of a joint: not a high price to pay for two hours or more of being stoned.

And finally, marijuana is a hot topic in the tight race for Colorado 
governor, CBS News reports.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom