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Oregon’s Measure 91 might be changing through Senate Bill 542

On Behalf of | Feb 12, 2015 | Civil Litigation |

News of legalizing marijuana is prevalent across the country. Some people think that states should follow Colorado’s lead and make recreational marijuana legal. Other people think that isn’t the right way to go. Oregon is one of the states that has opted to follow Colorado’s lead when it comes to recreational marijuana.

In Oregon, recreational marijuana will become legal in July. At some point in 2016, the first retail shops are expected to open their doors. This comes after Oregon voters passed Measure 91, a bill that ended the ban on recreational marijuana for adults who are 21 years old or older.

Now, a new battle looms over Measure 91. Senate Bill 542 has been introduced. That bill would allow counties and cities to ban recreational marijuana without having to allow voters to vote on it. The group We Are New Approach Oregon is asking lawmakers to stop that bill.

A woman from Moms for Yes on 91 says that the problem with the Senate bill is that it changes the measure that voters passed. She says that last-minute changes aren’t what people who studied the Measure 91 prior to voting want to see.

The overall concern from people who oppose the Senate bill is that if recreational marijuana is banned by counties, the black market would gain strength. The safety of children is being called into question if that black market is strengthened. People who believe in a regulated market say that regulation will help to keep those kids safe.

Many voters who vote on measures take the time to understand all the points of the measures before they vote. Law makers changing the measures after the vote might mean that someone who voted on the measure might have voted differently with those changes in place.

Source: KATU.com, “New efforts launched to defend Measure 91” Stephen Mayer, Feb. 05, 2015

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