[JURIST] Oregon voters are set to vote this fall on Measure 91 [text, PDF], which would legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Under the proposed initiative, recreational sale of marijuana would be governed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission [official website], which would be granted the power to select licensees and develop regulations. The pro-measure 91 camp has been heavily supported by the advocacy group Drug Policy Action [official website], which has contributed [Oregonian report] $930,000 to the “Yes on 91” [official website] campaign. Marijuana legalization has had a complex history in Oregon. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the drug in 1973 and in 2012 rejected a ballot measure that would have legalized it. In addition to Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia will also decide [Fortune report] this fall whether to legalize recreational marijuana; both Alaska and DC have previously legalized medical marijuana.

The legal use and sale of marijuana [JURIST backgrounder] for both medical and recreational purposes has become a major political issue in the US with a number of states contemplating various legalization initiatives. In September the Pennsylvania State Senate [official website] approved legislation that would legalize several forms of medical marijuana. In July Illinois Governor Pat Quinn [official website] signed [JURIST report] legislation [SB 2636, materials] that will allow adults and children suffering from seizures access to medical marijuana. In April the Maryland House of Representatives [official website] passed a bill [JURIST report] that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.