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Washington, Oregon Marijuana Legalization Initiatives Filed

Marijuana law reform activists in the Pacific Northwest are moving ahead with renewed efforts to win legalization at the ballot box. In the last few days, legalization initiatives have been filed with state authorities in Oregon and Washington.

In both states, similar legalization initiatives failed to make the ballot last year. This time around, organizers in both states say they are better prepared for the arduous and expensive process of signature-gathering to make the ballot.

In Washington, Sensible Washington, the folks behind last year's failed effort, have filed an initiative that removes all criminal penalties for adults who use, possess, produce, transport, or distribute marijuana. Unlike last year's initiative, which lost critical support for its failure to address regulation of the marijuana market, this year's version explicitly directs the state legislature to enact a regulatory scheme.

Sensible Washington is aiming for this year's November election ballot, despite pleas from some national and state reform figures to hold off until the presidential election year in 2012.

"We're pleased to again put the important question of marijuana legalization before the public," said Seattle attorney Douglas Hiatt, Sensible Washington’s chair and initiative coauthor. "We’re better funded and better organized this year and we look forward to giving the public an opportunity to vote on this issue in November. We've changed last year’s initiative to reflect concerns about civil regulations of marijuana, and our new initiative has language that clearly directs the state legislature to regulate the responsible adult use of marijuana."

The group expects to start signature-gathering this month. They need 241,153 valid voter signatures to make the November ballot.

In Oregon, the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA 2012) initiative is back. Organizers turned in 2,200 signatures on January 4 to start the ballot title creation process. The initiative has until July 2012 to turn in nearly 86,000 valid voter signatures to make the November 2012 ballot. In an email to supporters, D. Paul Stanford of the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp vowed to gather at least 130,000 signatures to ensure a comfortable cushion. The initiative is also supported by Oregon NORML.

OCTA 2012 would allow Oregonians 21 or over to possess and grow marijuana. It would also create an Oregon Cannabis Commission to oversee the regulation of commercial cultivation and distribution. The commission would sell marijuana through its own outlets, similar to state liquor stores.

And so the next round begins.

Arizona Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Introduced by GOP State Rep John Fillmore

Location: 
AZ
United States
Under a bill introduced by Representative John Fillmore possession of two ounces or less of marijuana -- by anyone -- would become a petty offense and carry a fine of only $100. Fillmore says that marijuana isn't a gateway drug, as critics unscientifically claim, and all the money and time wasted by law enforcement on marijuana prohibition enforcement would be better spent elsewhere.
Publication/Source: 
Phoenix New Times (AZ)
URL: 
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2011/02/marijuana_decriminalization_bi.php

Massachusetts State Legislator Files Marijuana Legislation

Location: 
MA
United States
Ellen Story, D-Amherst, responding to the 69 percent of the voters in her district who instructed her to vote "in favor of legislation that would allow the state to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol" on Nov. 2, 2010, is sponsoring "An Act to Regulate and Tax the Cannabis Industry." Assigned House Docket Number 01091, it will receive a bill number in the near future. If enacted, the state’s current prohibition upon adults having or growing a personal supply will be repealed, analogous to alcohol-control laws for home winemaking.
Publication/Source: 
Marblehead Reporter (MA)
URL: 
http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehead/news/x286169782/State-legislator-files-marijuana-legislation

Sensible Washington Files New Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Despite Plea to Hold Off

Location: 
WA
United States
Undeterred by last year's failure to pass a marijuana legalization initiative, and a plea by national advocacy groups to hold off until next year for another effort, Sensible Washington is filing a new initiative with the Secretary of State.
Publication/Source: 
Seattle Weekly (WA)
URL: 
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2011/01/sensible_washington_files_new.php

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne Recommends State Tax on Medical Marijuana

Location: 
AZ
United States
Attorney General Tom Horne announced a plan for Arizona to tax medical marijuana. Horne added that the Department of Revenue informed his office that they plan to take the advice and tax the sales. The taxes could yield revenues for the state in the approximate amount of $40 million per year, according to a report.
Publication/Source: 
KNXV (AZ)
URL: 
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/health/horne-recommends-state-tax-on-medical-marijuana

Seminar on Medical Marijuana Tax Issues

In an effort to get more owners of medical marijuana businesses to properly remit sales and use taxes, the city of Boulder, Colorado is hosting an informational seminar on marijuana taxes.

The seminar will focus on the city's tax rules as they pertain to medical marijuana businesses, and will include topics such as audits and tax returns.

The event requires reservations. To reserve a spot, call 303-441-4017.

Date: 
Wed, 01/26/2011 - 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Location: 
1777 Broadway Municipal Building Plaza
Boulder, CO 80302
United States

Want to See Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) Ask President Obama a Question? (Action Alert)

Dear Friends,

In an ongoing effort by the White House to engage the public via the internet, President Obama will answer questions from YouTube users in a live-streaming event this Thursday, January 27, two days after his annual State of the Union address.

LEAP speaker MacKenzie Allen, a retired deputy sheriff, wrote in to ask:

 “As a police officer, I saw how waging the war on drugs has cost a trillion dollars and thousands of lives but does nothing to reduce drug use. Should we discuss legalizing marijuana and other drugs, which would eliminate the violent criminal market?”

YouTube has stated that the president will answer the questions that receive the most votes. LEAP’s question is currently among the top-voted entries.  Let’s keep it going!  To vote, please visit http://www.youtube.com/askobama and use the search box on the right side to find the question above from LEAP speaker MacKenzie Allen, then cast your vote. The easiest way to find the correct entry is to paste a phrase from the question, like “as a police officer,” into the search box. Here's what you should see:



This is an incredible opportunity for us to get LEAP’s message in front of the nation, and we have until Wednesday at midnight EST to make it happen.  Please click here vote now!

Thank you,

Major Neill Franklin - Retired
Executive Director

Your donation puts LEAP speakers in front of audiences. To support LEAP's work by making a contribution, please click here.


           

121 Mystic Ave. Suites 8&9
Medford, MA 01255
(781) 393-6985 [email protected]

We need help growing our all-encompassing movement of citizens who want to end the failed "war on drugs," so please invite your family and friends to learn about LEAP.
 

 

 

Washington State Bill Proposes to Sell Marijuana Through State Liquor Stores

Location: 
WA
United States
State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, is again proposing that the state legalize marijuana and regulate it much like alcohol. House Bill 1550, filed today, proposes that marijuana be sold through state liquor stores to adults aged 21 and over, and that the state Liquor Control Board issue licenses to commercial growers. Dickerson sponsored similar legislation in the previous legislative session, but the bill was voted down in the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
Publication/Source: 
The Seattle Times (WA)
URL: 
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014032323_billwouldsellpotthroughstateliquorstores.html

Initiative Would Legalize Marijuana in Oregon

Location: 
OR
United States
The head of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation in Portland, Paul Stanford, is working to put a measure on the 2012 ballot in Oregon to legalize marijuana.
Publication/Source: 
The Columbian (WA)
URL: 
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jan/20/initiative-would-legalize-marijuana-in-oregon/

Montana: Republican Senator Introduces Second Major Medical Marijuana Bill

Location: 
MT
United States
A Helena lawmaker has introduced a bill to license and regulate the growing and selling of medical marijuana in Montana and to impose a 10 percent tax on the growers' sales to pay for the cost of regulation and go for other uses. Senator Dave Lewis, R-Helena, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 154, the second major bill intended to impose some regulations on the industry.
Publication/Source: 
The Billings Gazette (MT)
URL: 
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_f0069051-d353-58e4-9ea2-a3c057aa2ac1.html

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