June 17, 2014 - “We need to stop wasting taxpayer dollars arresting and searching people in Oregon just because they use marijuana,” said David Fidanque, executive director of the ACLU of Oregon. “Prohibition hasn’t worked and it never will. It’s time to be honest about that and take a path that makes sense.”
The New Approach Oregon campaign is collecting signatures to qualify an initiative for the November ballot. The initiative would strictly regulate marijuana sales and possession, legalize the use of marijuana by adults 21 and over only, and tax marijuana and its products, generating money for important public services like education, public safety and drug treatment
So far, the campaign has collected more than 90,000 signatures. To qualify for the ballot, 87,213 valid signatures are required by July 3.
“We are just starting to get the word out about endorsing this initiative,” said Liz Kaufman, campaign director for New Approach Oregon. “This is our first big announcement, and we will have many more in coming months. A growing majority of Oregonians understand that we need a new approach to marijuana.”
