Cops, Judges Come Out In Support of Oregon Marijuana Legalization Measure

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“Treating marijuana as a crime has failed.”
That’s the message a group of 30 former cops, sheriffs, attorneys and judges wrote in a pro-marijuana endorsement for Oregon’s Measure 91, which voters could approve next week.


“Arresting and citing thousands of people in Oregon and elsewhere for marijuana-related crimes is a distraction to law enforcement and a misuse of taxpayer resources. The time and money spent should go to make our communities safer. Police resources should be focused on violent criminals, thieves and criminal cartels.”
The message was delivered this week as Yes on 91 supporters made a final push to get voters out. Polls have shown that Measure 91 is slightly leading in the polls, with 46 percent of voters saying they’ll vote yes. If approved, Oregon residents 21 and up would be able to have up to eight ouncs of herb on them at home and one ounce in public. Sales would also be allowed, with taxes going to schools and drug prevention programs.
Estimates from the state financial estimate committee show that the state could pull in anywhere from $17 million to $40 million in revenue annually.
Read the entire release below.

Treating marijuana as a crime has failed. Arresting and citing thousands of people in Oregon and elsewhere for marijuana-related crimes is a distraction to law enforcement and a misuse of taxpayer resources. The time and money spent should go to make our communities safer. Police resources should be focused on violent criminals, thieves and criminal cartels.
A regulated, legal and taxed system for marijuana has already been shown to work better in Colorado and Washington. Colorado, the first state to implement regulated sales, has seen a reduction in teen use, a drop in traffic fatalities, and a falling violent crime rate in Denver, where most dispensaries are located. Revenue is going to fund public services rather than into the pockets of criminals and we expect the same in Washington when data starts to come in from that state. The sky has not fallen and law enforcement officers are now directing their time toward serious crimes, in accordance with their communities’ wishes.
Measure 91 is built on the foundation provided by these states and tailored to Oregon. It will ensure 35% of tax revenue raised goes to law enforcement, including 10% each to cities and counties and 15% for state police. It is a better approach.
Supported by the following 30 law enforcement officials:
Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper (Ret.) (Orcas Island, WA) 34 years
Multnomah County Sheriff Don Clark (Ret.) (Multnomah County, OR) Over 10 years law enforcement experience and a career of public service in Oregon
Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Stephen Downing (Ret.) (Long Beach, CA) 20 years
US Attorney for the District of Oregon Kris Olson (Ret.) (Oregon) 17 years of experience as a prosecutor
Oregon Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge and Circuit Court trial Judge, Bill Riggs (Ret.) (Willsonville. OR) 35 years of judge experience
Assistant State’s Attorney Inge Fryklund (Ret.) (Bend, OR) 30 years law enforcement experience
Lieutenant Sheriff Paul Stiegleder (Ret.) (Portland, OR) 30 years
Former Drug Unit Prosecutor Darian Stanford (Portland, OR) 5 years
Former County Deputy Sheriff Pete Tutmark (Clackamas, Oregon) 30 years
Prosecutor Jay Fisher (Denver, CO) 12 years
Denver Police Department Lieutenant Tony Ryan (Ret.) (Sahuarita, AZ) 36 years
Special Agent Finn Selander (Ret.) (Albuquerque, NM) 20 years
Former Detention Officer and Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Thomas (Denver, CO) 2 years
Sergeant John Baker (Ret.) (Parker, CO) 24 years
Former Undercover Narcotics Officer Jay Fleming (Mohave Valley, AZ) 15 years
Federal Probation Officer LeRoy Washington (Ret.) (Kamuela, HI) 34 years
Former Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Dial (Mesa, AZ) 2 years
US Customs Inspector Arnold Byron (Ret.) (Burlington, WA) 21 years
Former Corrections Official Matt McCally (Renton, WA) 7 years
Deputy Sheriff MacKenzie Allen (Ret.) (Santa Fe, NM) 15 years
Former Judge Leonard Frieling (Lafayette, CO) 8 years
Former Prosecutor and Corrections Officer Jim Doherty (Seattle, WA) 6 years
Parole and Probation Officer Shelley Fox-Loken (Ret.) (Portland, OR) 21 years
Former Police Officer James Peet (Sumner, WA) 3 years
Superior Court Judge David A Nichols (Ret.) (Bellingham, WA) 20 years
Narcotics Officer and Military Police Officer David Doddridge (Ret.) (St. George, UT) 21 years
Lieutenant Commander Diane Goldstein (Ret.) (Santa Ana, CA) 21 years
Former Police Officer Kyle Kazan (Long Beach, CA) 5 years
Former Deputy Sheriff Nate Bradley (Sheridan, CA) 7 years
Former Deputy Sheriff Leo Laurence (San Diego, CA) 16 years

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