Oregon to Vote on Recreational Marijuana this November

Oregon voters will decide whether they want to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana this November.

The petition, known as Petition 53, has qualified for the November ballot. The petition was submitted earlier this month by New Approach Oregon, a Portland-based marijuana policy reform group. According to Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, more than 87,000 signatures have been verified by her office.

Under the proposed initiative, Oregon residents 21 and over would be able to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana at home and one ounce in public. Similar to the regulatory model of Washington State, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission would be the agency in charge of regulating and monitoring the industry. Taxes imposed on marijuana would be used to distribute to schools, law enforcement and drug prevention and education programs in Oregon.

Oregon has already decriminalized cannabis and legalized its use for medical purposes. Gov. John Kitzhaber has signaled his support for the use of marijuana for recreational purposes if a bill makes it to his desk. Many believe that the bill will pass in Oregon, with a recent poll showing that 57 percent of the state’s potential 2014 voters support legalizing recreational use.

In addition to Oregon, Alaska voters will also decide this fall on whether to approve recreational marijuana.