BUCKLEY THINKING ABOUT MEASURE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Representative Believes Move Would Raise Revenue, Reduce Criminal Activity

If California voters approve a measure in November to legalize
marijuana, Oregon state Rep. Peter Buckley intends to introduce
similar legislation when Oregon lawmakers return to Salem in 2011.

The Oregon legislator says the proposed Oregon Cannabis Revenue Act
would tax and regulate pot for adult consumption.

In addition to raising revenue, Buckley said, it would dramatically
reduce criminal activity now associated with it, including the
illegal pot gardens now frequently found on area federal forestlands.

"But what happens in California is the key," said Buckley, an Ashland
Democrat who is co-chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

"California is huge," he said. "If California decides to legalize it,
I want my colleagues to at least let Oregon voters weigh in on the issue."

He believes that Oregonians would likely follow California's lead,
followed by residents in Washington state.

Californians approved that state's landmark medical marijuana law 14
years ago; Oregonians followed suit four years later.

California's Proposition 19, which will be on the Nov. 2 ballot,
would decriminalize pot for adults 21 or older in possession of an
ounce or less for personal use. California residents could also grow
marijuana gardens up to 25 square feet.

In addition, the proposal would allow cities and local governments to
decide whether to allow pot sales and levy taxes on those sales.

The legislative language was largely written by activist Melodie
Silverwolf and Madeline Martinez, executive director of Oregon
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. After meeting
with them last week, Buckley agreed to introduce the legislation in
the upcoming legislative session.

According to Martinez, the legislation would be a starting point for
Oregon to end cannabis prohibition for all adults while keeping the
Oregon Medical Marijuana Program in place. Oregonians already will be
voting on an expansion of that system in November, deciding whether
to allow marijuana dispensaries for those with medical marijuana cards.

Opponents to legalizing pot in the state have long argued that
legalization would cause more problems with drug abuse as well as
more headaches for law enforcement agencies.

"I don't think you can legalize your way out of a problem, and you
can't sin tax your way out," said Tim George, deputy chief of the
Medford Police Department, of Buckley's proposed legislation. George
challenges claims that it would raise significant taxes or reduce crime.

Buckley said it is time for Oregonians to have a rational debate on the issue.

"It is a difficult proposal because cannabis has been stereotyped for
so long," he said. "It's hard to have a rational discussion about it.
But that's my intention: to finally have a rational discussion about
marijuana."

The Oregon measure would be slightly different from the California
proposal in several ways, Buckley said.

It would set up a system with the state Department of Agriculture
establishing where marijuana could be grown.

The state would also create a group similar to the Oregon Liquor
Control Commission, called the Oregon Cannabis Control Commission,
which would regulate how pot is grown and consumed, he said.

"Perhaps we can get out of the mess we are in with drug cartels from
Mexico," he said. "My goal is to do everything I can to get rid of
the black market.

"Prohibition doesn't work," he said. "With this, we would regulate it
and tax it. It would help pay for Oregon's education system, for
human services and for public safety."

Meanwhile, a field poll released Sunday by the Associated Press
showed that Proposition 19 is currently supported by 49 percent of
the likely California voters, while 42 percent were opposed.