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2010
2010 Archive: Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Petitions Approved for Circulation
Submitted by octa2012 on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 23:07Drafted by: Kyndall Mason, (04-07-10)
(Portland, OR) - The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA) is kicking off its signature-gathering effort at the OR NORML meeting at 700 NE Dekum this Saturday, April 10 at 10:00am. Petitions have just been approved for circulation by the Oregon Secretary of State's Office, and OCTA expects over 300 in attendance to be among the first to sign the petition for this monumental ballot measure.
Co-Chief Petitioner Madeline Martinez, Executive Director of OR NORML – a statewide chapter of a national organization working to legalize adult cannabis use – says that “OCTA will transform Oregon. We can capture at least $140 million for the General Fund annually to better our state for all Oregonians. That’s schools, roads, health care and many other public projects. Supporting OCTA is a no-brainer.”
OCTA will generate that $140 million by taxing commercial cannabis sales to adults 21 years of age and older. And $61.5 million will be saved annually as law enforcement’s attention can focus on dangerous and often violent crimes.
In addition to the revenue generated for the General Fund, the potential of industrial hemp for Oregon's economy is limitless as it will turn Oregon into a national leader in ecological innovation and sustainable jobs. “The entire hemp plant is useful, from its seeds which create a food source to its oil which can be made into bio-diesel to its stalks which can be woven into fabrics or turned into paper – hemp is the future, not just for Oregon, but for a sustainable planet,” says Paul Stanford, OCTA's other Co-Chief Petitioner and founder of the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF), an organization which helps provide medical marijuana patients access to medicine.
2010 Archive: In the News
Submitted by octa2012 on Wed, 03/02/2011 - 05:39
This section of the site was created to keep people informed with related coverage and educate voters on the story of cannabis. It is updated daily.
2010 Archive
2010 Archive: Oregon: Cannabis Legalization Effort Now Gathering Signatures
Marijuana advocates are gearing up to legalize the drug for recreational use in Oregon with a new measure poised to go on the November ballot.
2010 Archive: Oregon Could Legalize Marijuana Along with California
The Oregon Secretary of State has certified a petition that proposes legalizing and taxing the sale of marijuana across the state.
Shut Up & Vote
After decades of dashed hopes, leaders of the movement to legalize marijuana believe their goal is poised to become a reality this year.
2010 Archive: How to Get Marijuana Legalization on the Oregon Ballot
On March 25, 2010 the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act won a huge victory when the Oregon Supreme Court shot down Bradley Benoit’s challenge to their initiative.
2010 Archive: Marijuana Legalization Initiative Aims for November Ballot
There is a chance, albeit an outside one, that the entire West Coast could go green in November.
2010 Archive: Oregon: Supreme Court Tosses Challenge to Oregon Cannabis Tax Act
Hemp Products
Submitted by octa2012 on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 02:38A: Hemp can be used to make 50,000 products from Biodiesel to Plastic!
Biodiesel | Fashion | Fiber | Medicine | Nutrition | Prohibition | Sustainability
- Hemp seed oil can be used as fuel to drive cars and heat homes because Hemp produces biomass, which can be converted into charcoal for electricity, ethanol, methanol and other sources of fuel. Burning biomass for energy, instead of fossil fuels, helps keep the carbon dioxide cycle in balance, and thus helps to stop global warming, instead of contributing to it as the burning of fossil fuels does.
- An acre of hemp will produce from four to ten times as much paper pulp as will an acre of trees, over the period of time it takes pulp trees to grow to maturity, and hemp can be used to make paper more durable and environmentally friendly than wood. Changing to hemp-based paper could reduce deforestation by half. Hemp paper lasts hundreds of years longer than paper made from trees and doesn't require toxic bleaching chemicals.
- One acre of hemp can produce 10 tons of biomass every four months of growing season. Hemp fuel is the most cost effective and environmentally friendly reusable energy source on the planet, and could potentially make the U.S. less dependent on foreign petroleum.
- The cannabis sativa plant produces more protein, oil and fiber than any other plant on earth. Hempseed, for example, was an essential part of our ancestors' diet and is the source of "gruel," the porridge that is referred to in countless stories and books written before this century.
Press Releases
Submitted by octa2012 on Fri, 06/25/2010 - 02:03Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Petitions Approved for Circulation
Press Release: News Conference:
When: Monday, March 28th, 10 AM
Where: 2712 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
Who: Paul Stanford, Chief Petitioner & Treasurer
Jennifer Alexander, Campaign Manager
Organizers of a new Oregon state initiative campaign, Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 (OCTA2012), are announcing the kickoff of their petition drive and opening of their new office. The Oregon Secretary of State's Election Division just announced the approval of the petition, Initiative Number 9, for circulation and signature gathering on March 24th. Organizers have until July 7, 2012 to gather 90,000 registered Oregon voters' signatures to qualify for the November 6, 2012 ballot.
Organizers are rallying petitioners at their new office starting at 9:30 AM on Monday, March 28th and holding a news conference at 10 AM. The state campaign committee is working to achieve ballot status in three ways: hiring paid petitioners, organizing volunteer petitioners and soliciting Oregon registered voters signatures online. Interested media are cordially invited to attend. Mr. Stanford and Ms. Alexander will be available for individual interviews.
2010 Archive: Legal Pot Could Be on November Ballot in Oregon
Submitted by octa2012 on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 15:52By David Krough and AP
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Marijuana advocates are gearing up to legalize the drug for recreational use in Oregon with a new measure poised to go on the November ballot.
According to their website, the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act would "legalize the sale, possession and personal private cultivation of marijuana." It would also set aside two percent of profits from cannabis sales for commissions that promote industrial hemp biodiesel, fiber, protein and oil.
Growers and sellers would need a state license and could only sell in cannabis-only stores.
Oregon became the second state to pass a marijuana law in 1998, following California. There are nearly 24,000 patients with medical marijuana cards in Oregon. Only state residents can obtain the card after registering as a patient in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program with a qualifying debilitating medical condition diagnosed by a doctor.
Organizers will start collecting signatures Saturday.
Kyndall Mason with the DemocracyResources.com organization was working with the National Organization for Reform of Mairjuana Laws (NORML) and Oregon groups to gather signatures starting Saturday.
"Oregon has a long history of laws that conflict with federal law, that includes the Death with Dignity Act," Mason said. "The feds have (recently) given states more autonomy, specifically regarding medical marijuana laws," she said.
With the Obama administration's decision last month to soften the federal stance on medical marijuana, Cannabis Cafe in Northeast Portland recently opened, where glass jars hold donations of pot for medical users, and the cafe serves up meals and snacks for the hungry.
