Sen. Merkley: ‘I lean in favor of’ legalizing marijuana in Oregon

[Warren DeMontague]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/10/24/sen-merkley-i-lean-in-favor-of-legalizing-marijuana-in-oregon/

“I think folks on both sides of the argument make a good case,” Merkley said. “And there is concern about a series of new products — and we don’t have a real track record from Colorado and Washington. But I feel on balance that we spend a lot of money on our criminal justice system in the wrong places and I lean in favor of this ballot measure.”

While politicians nationwide have been reluctant to stake out a position on the issue, Merkley is unlikely to be the last to so explicitly announce his support for legalization as attitudes toward the drug continue to shift. Reps. Jared Polis of Colorado and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon have been fighting to end the federal prohibition of pot for some time now. As an increasingly clear majority of Americans support the idea of legalizing the drug, more are expected to follow.

[Shrike47]

1. Well, I voted for it. There are problems I see with the proposal, but I really want to get cops out

They use Mj as an excuse for all kinds of illegal searches. They need to be pushed back.

[MerryBlooms]

3. ^^this^^

[MerryBlooms]

2. When I lived in Oregon, Wyden was

my Senator, but Merkley is equally good imo.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Wyden is still our Sr Senator, Merkley replaced Republican Gordon Smith in 2008

nt

[MerryBlooms]

6. Yep. I was born and lived in Oregon until just 4 years ago...

I live in NE Illinois now, but when we retire, we're going home to Oregon.
I really miss my state.

[Dustlawyer]

4. I have a condition which causes sever chronic pain such that I had to have a neural stimulator

implanted in my spine. Studies show that MJ is very effective at treating nerve pain and people with my disease, yet I cannot take it. I am allergic to all but one non-narcotic medicine, and that medicine by itself is not nearly enough to control the pain. I take a schedule 2 narcotic that is as high as it gets since schedule one drugs are the ones that supposedly have no medicinal value.
I am not allowed to take MJ in Texas (of course) and they drug test patients taking pain meds like a crimminal.
Please pass it Oregon and don't mess up! Show Texas how much revenue it can generate and maybe Texas will see it is a net win! The greedy bastards will pass it over the police, liquor manufacturors, religious zelots, and their lobbyists objections!
Sick people need this highly beneficial plant!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. He should combine both ideas...

He's demanding filibuster reform in the senate.

"Make them talk" should be "Make them talk stoned".

[fredamae]

9. Actually, thats Not

the worst idea I have ever heard!
Didn't the military test cannabis during WWII as a "truth telling" agent?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. I can see it now: "Dude,...did ya hear about the latest tank?"

[daleanime]

8. K&R....

[LWolf]

10. I voted for both last weekend.

91 AND Merkley.

I LOVE having things and people on the ballot to vote FOR.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. I voted for it this past week, too.

I will be proud of Oreogn if we become State #3 to do this.