OREGON—(ENEWSPF)—November 20, 2014. Although Oregon voters passed Measure 91 with a 12-point margin, implementation of this better, smarter approach to marijuana policy will not be complete until the first half of 2016. We don’t have to wait until then to start to mitigate the damage done by decades of criminalization, wasted law enforcement time and squandered taxpayer money.
Prosecutors in Oregon’s largest county have already decided to dismiss, and stop prosecuting, marijuana-related offenses that would no longer exist under Measure 91. Other county prosecutors should follow Multnomah County’s lead.
A strong majority of Oregon voters have directed the state to stop treating marijuana as a crime and to better prioritize our limited law enforcement resources. With so many lives and so much money at stake, waiting would be unreasonable and clearly damaging to Oregon’s communities. We should work quickly to limit the damage already caused by a feckless war against marijuana.
We urge you to cease enforcement of marijuana laws that will no longer exist when provisions of Measure 91 take effect in July.
Respectfully,
Anthony Johnson, Director, New Approach Oregon, Chief Petitioner of Measure 91
David Fidanque, Executive Director, ACLU of Oregon
Becky Straus, Legislative Director, ACLU of Oregon
Kris Olson, former US Attorney for the District of Oregon
Darian Stanford, former Drug Unit Prosecutor
Paul Steigleder, former Lieutenant Sheriff
Pete Tutmark, former Deputy Sheriff
Inge Fryklund, former Assistant State’s Attorney
Source: New Approach Oregon
