JOINT COMMITTEE SEEKS END TO OREGON MARIJUANA LAW
GROUP GATHERS PETITIONS TO PUT REPEAL OF NEW STATUTE ON 1998 BALLOT

EUGENE, ORE. : A group calling itself ``The Real Joint Ways and
Means Committee'' wants voters to repeal a new state law that
makes it a crime to possess small amounts of marijuana.

The group, led by two Portlandarea activists and supported by
volunteers in Eugene, has begun collecting signatures for a
referendum that would put the question of marijuana
recriminalization on the November 1998 statewide ballot.

``We feel that it's just a terrible law that's going to cost
taxpayers
tons of money (to enforce),'' said Deidra Mullican, owner of Sew
Much Hemp, a Eugene store that sells various hemp fabrics. ``The
governor himself was extremely reluctant to sign it.''

Mullican is one of a growing number of volunteers who have
agreed to gather signatures since the referendum was filed with
the state elections office last week. The group focused its
petition
efforts at last weekend's Oregon Country Fair.

To qualify for the ballot, the group must turn in 48,841 valid
signatures of registered voters. The deadline is 90 days after the
legislature's July 5 adjournment. Under state law, referendums
require the fewest number of signatures to make it on a ballot 4
percent of the number of voters in the last governor's race.

If the group meets its signature goal, enforcement of the
recriminalization law would be put on hold until after the
election.

``We're going to get those signatures,'' vowed Frederick Oerther
of Clackamas, cochief petitioner and a former Libertarian
candidate for governor.

Oerther said he would probably use paid signature gatherers if he
can come up with enough financial support.

``So far, we don't have a lot of money,'' he said. He said he would
solicit donations from national marijuana law reform groups. ``I am
convinced the money will come in.''

The legislature passed House Bill 3643, which made possession of
less than an ounce of marijuana a class C misdemeanor,
punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

People arrested under the new law also risk losing their driver's
license for six months and, potentially, their car.

Since the 1970s, possession of less than an ounce of pot has been
considered a violation, similar to receiving a stiff speeding
ticket.

There was no threat of jail time, and no criminal record was
established for anyone caught with a joint or two.

LIB