Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Oregonians Will Vote On Marijuana Legalization In November

Chief petitioner Anthony Johnson prepares boxes of signatures to submit to the Oregon Secretary of State's office in Salem.
Chris Lehman
/
Northwest News Network
Chief petitioner Anthony Johnson prepares boxes of signatures to submit to the Oregon Secretary of State's office in Salem.

An initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Oregon qualified for the November ballot Tuesday.

Chief petitioner Anthony Johnson prepares boxes of signatures to submit to the Oregon Secretary of State's office in Salem.
Credit Chris Lehman / Northwest News Network
/
Northwest News Network
File photo of chief petitioner Anthony Johnson preparing to turn in signatures for verification in Salem last month.

Oregon's measure would go further than Washington's by allowing people to grow their own marijuana. But like Washington, the drug would also be available in state licensed stores.

Peter Zuckerman of New Approach Oregon, the campaign pushing for legalization, said the measure would bring in badly needed tax revenue.

"The current approach feeds the black market," he said. "That money is going to drug dealers right now and it could be going to more important things like schools and police and drug prevention."

Law enforcement groups in Oregon have expressed concern about the ballot measure. Both major party candidates for governor have also spoken out against it.

A different marijuana legalization measure failed in Oregon two years ago.

Copyright 2014 Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman has been reporting on Oregon issues since 2006. He joined the KLCC news department in December 2018 and became News Director in March 2023. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism. His public broadcasting career includes stops in Louisiana and Illinois. Chris has filed for national programs including “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”