Pubdate: Sat, 25 Oct 2014
Source: Statesman Journal (Salem, OR)
Copyright: 2014 Statesman Journal
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/QEzJupzz
Website: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427
Author: Anna Staver

OREGON SHERIFFS SLAM WASH. SHERIFF FOR MARIJUANA AD

Oregon's 36 county sheriffs "don't appreciate" that a sheriff for 
King County in Washington has begun publicly supporting Oregon's 
marijuana legalization ballot initiative.

"I am appalled that Sheriff (John) Urquhart feels the need to speak 
to Measure 91, a measure that is very different from Washington's 
Initiative 502," Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers said in a statement.

Urquhart started appearing in an Oregon television ad this week where 
he explained the reasons he thought legalization is working in Washington.

"Strict regulations are working," Urquhart said in the ad. "Here it's 
really better already. It's your vote, not mine, but it's working here."

The Oregon Sheriff's Association - which opposes Measure 91 - 
disputed the facts Urquhart offered in the ad and the implication 
that Oregon and Washington's legalization proposals were similar.

For example, Washington doesn't allow residents to grow their own 
marijuana but Oregon would.

Data from the Washington State Patrol shows that in the months since 
legal sales of marijuana started the number of drivers testing 
positive for THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) increased by 33 
percent over the previous year, according to data provided by Derek 
Franklin, President of Washington Association for Substance Abuse and 
Violence Prevention.

"You don't see any Oregon Sheriffs going up to Washington to weigh 
in," Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins said in a statement. "He 
needs to get his nose out of our state and show some respect. The 
issues we face are different."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom