We’ve told you already today about the close race in Florida to legalize medical marijuana, but there’s at least three other major marijuana votes today to keep an eye on.
Search Results: portland (128)
“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.
Oregon’s Measure 91, which would legalize limited amounts of pot in the state, should pass according to polls conducted this week. The survey, conducted by Oregon Public Broadcasting, showed that 52 percent of voters approve the measure while only 41 percent opposed it.
But it’s not a lock yet, and advocates say voters still need to remember to show up or mail in their ballots. And no, that’s not a bad pot joke about forgetful stoners.
Nine medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon – six in Portland alone – have been forced to shutter their doors after state officials say they were operating illegally and in opposition to the state’s newly-launched medical marijuana program.
For some, it is because they were too close to schools. Others simply didn’t have a license, or even an application in the works, but kept their doors open anyway.
| Commons/IDuke |
For some people, owning a home is one of their lifelong aspirations, only second to living out the rest of their days stoned to the bone in a legal marijuana state. Indeed, this level of paradise seems relatively easy to achieve these days, especially since an increasing number of states have voted to legalize the leaf for medical and recreational use.
Unfortunately, the problem some folks are running into, shortly after the last piece of furniture has been pulled off the U-Haul, is that some neighbors are not very pot-friendly and more than willing to file a complaint with the homeowners association the moment the first puff of pot smoke crosses the fence.
Following in the footsteps of Portland, Maine last year, activists in York, Maine say they have collected enough signatures to get a pot legalization measure on the November city ballot.
If approved by voters, the measure would make the possession in the city of up to one ounce of pot legal for adults 21 and up. The penalty is currently a $600 fine.
If it isn’t going to be legalized, adults who choose to consume cannabis shouldn’t be treated like criminals. That idea is the basis for citywide ballot measures in Lewiston, South Portland and York that would decriminalize up to an ounce of herb as well as the use of ganja on private property.
Public use would remain illegal. So would selling it, growing it, distributing it, importing it and even smoking it in your rental unit if your lease forbids it.
For the third time in less than two months, New Approach Oregon has received $100,000 towards their cause from the Drug Policy Alliance of New York. That brings the total donations over the last two months to more than $300,000 thanks to two other $100,000 donations.
| globalcannabismarch.com |
What began in 1999 under the name Million Marijuana March, with events in 30 cities across America, is now, 15 years later, a global initiative for the advocacy of marijuana reform with marches, rallies, and events happening in 160 cities across 35 different countries this Saturday, May 3rd.
These days referred to as the Global Marijuana March (GMM), the multinational event is traditionally held on the first Saturday of each month. New York City, Atlanta, and Boston, along with cities like Toronto and Vancouver in Canada and Mexico City in Mexico, are just a handful of the cities that will be rallying for cannabis on behalf of North America on Saturday. Joining them will be nations from Central America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and more.
Medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon are nothing new, but for the first time they are opening under new state regulations that require state licenses of the shops before they can sell even a gram of herb.
That’s good news for patients, but it’s also bad news for some dispensary owners as the new laws also allows communities to ban marijuana centers outright by May 1. The Oregonian reports that at least one dispensary has a state license to operate, but might not be able to open their doors for at least a year.