There are heaps of ballot measures in the works for November. In fact, most states will have at least one this election; I was really surprised to learn that only 19 states have no ballot measures for the fall. I discovered this by visiting Ballotpedia, where I also learned that Nevada has a ballot measure about putting a 20,000+ seat sports arena on the Vegas strip. Yikes!
Oregon's ballot measure is way more fun; it's about further decriminalizing marijuana. The devil's parsley. Reefer. The best part is we Oregonians can sign the petition to make sure this gets on the ballot without having to run into a signature collector. (Warning: PDF) It appears there is no danger of not meeting the signature requirements, but we shouldn't take any chances. Citizens for Sensible Law Enforcement isn't; they're shooting for 185,000 signatures by the July 6th deadline. If you felt like gathering signatures for it, oh say, at the Pride Parade this weekend, where I will be doing GOTV Sunday, you can download the signature sheets here.
The best best part, though, is that even non-Oregonians can help with this effort and in a way that benefits all the states, not just us! Please dive below the orange wisp and join the fight to end the perfectly absurd prohibition of a perfectly wonderful plant.
So here is the text of IP-24 to decriminalize the personal and private use of marijuana here in Oregon:
Article I of the Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by a vote of the People to include the following new section:
Section 46. Applicability of state laws and penalties to the private personal use, possession and production of marijuana; exceptions; state may regulate. Except for actions that endanger minors or public safety, neither the criminal offenses and sanctions nor the laws of civil seizure and forfeiture of this state shall apply to the private personal use, possession or production of marijuana by adults 21 years of age and older. The State may enact laws and regulations consistent with this amendment to reasonably define, limit and regulate the use, possession, production, sale or taxation of marijuana under state law. To allow the State time to enact laws and regulations consistent with this amendment, this amendment shall become effective in the normal course but shall not become operational until six months after its effective date.
I really hope it passes with crushing margins. Goodness knows the state is full of stoners, but what I found interesting the last time someone tried to toughen our weed laws was the outpouring of opposition from decidedly non-stoner perspectives. In fact, almost none of the arguments in favor presented in the voter's guide spoke of weed itself, or the usual arguments about if it only affects me, who cares, etc. Most of them were along the lines of "this is a blatant power grab by law enforcement who just want to seize more stuff." I was so !@#$%& proud of my state. That one went down in flames, which will not be the fate of IP-24.
This is the part where you lovely non-Oregonians come in. Help bring the legalization fight to other states, including your own! There is a wonderful organization that participates at NN a lot, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, and guess what...they have a matching funds drive happening right now!
A few weeks ago, we told you that an anonymous donor has pledged to triple all donations to Law Enforcement Against Prohibition if we raise $50,000 by summer. With the first official day of summer right around the corner, we are extremely close to meeting our goal: we’ve raised $39,938 so far!
On behalf of LEAP’s speakers and staff, I want to offer a huge thank you to all of you who have stepped up and helped to bring us so close to our goal. We couldn’t have made it this far without your generous support.
Now we need others to step up and help us finish the job – raising the final $10,000 by June 21! Your $5 donation will grow to $15. Your $50 grows to $150, and your $1,000 to $3,000. Don’t pass up this incredible opportunity to triple your impact on legalization! LEAP has big plans for the rest of this year, and you have the power to make those plans a reality.
So whaddaya say...think we can find 10,000 some-odd people to throw in $1 to end prohibition? Please forward this information to everyone you know; we only have until June 21 for LEAP to avail itself of the
matching funds offer. And whether you live in Oregon or not, whether you have ever even seen weed or not, prohibition affects you. Oh yes. Please join the fight!