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Kevin Sabet, speaking before the National Association of Drug Court Professionals in Anaheim, Calif., this May, will be in Oregon this fall.

Kevin Sabet, the nation's most prominent crusader against marijuana legalization, will give a series of taxpayer-supported talks in 13 Oregon cities just weeks before the state votes on the issue.

That has marijuana legalization supporters crying foul. "It raises a lot of questions about federal tax dollars being used to interfere in a state election," said Anthony Johnson, chief sponsor of Measure 91.

Sabet and the sponsors of the talks say he won't discuss the ballot measure at the event and that his appearances are part of ongoing efforts to deal with drug and alcohol abuse.

"These are educational events, not political events" said Sabet, a former White House drug control adviser. He added that he would tell attendees at the beginning of the events that he and other speakers won't discuss the ballot measure.

Sabet, who along with former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I. formed Smart Approaches to Marijuana, has frequently campaigned against marijuana legalization. Last January, he traveled to Oregon to talk to legislators about the issue.

This time, Sabet and several other speakers will attend an Oct. 1-2 event in Madras billed as the "Oregon Marijuana, Alcohol & Other Drugs Summit." Following that, Sabet will appear at evening events in 12 other cities described as the "Oregon Marijuana Education Tour."

The two-day Madras event and at least some of the other appearances are paid for in part by federal grants from the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. In addition to Sabet, Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis, another outspoken opponent of legalization, is also billed as a potential speaker.

"Regardless of any mention of the ballot measure by name, it seems pretty apparent they are hoping to influence an election in Oregon using taxpayer dollars," said Johnson.

Rick Treleaven, the executive director of a nonprofit that runs community mental health programs for Jefferson County and that is putting on the Madras summit, said the two-day event has been held for several years.

He said the marijuana portion of the event was expanded to other cities this year because of interest from drug prevention workers around the state. He said that marijuana is the "hot topic of the moment," both because of the legalization debate and the increasing availability of the drug through the medical marijuana program.

Treveleaven said that in retrospect, he probably should have moved timing of the tour to avoid charges of trying to influence the November vote. But he said it never occurred to him this would be an issue.

He said the Madras event will cost up to $15,000 to stage, with about half of that being paid for by federal grant funds. Organizers at the other venues said they also planned to use a mixture of public and private funds.

Connie Ramaekers of Tigard Turns the Tide said the "event fits in well with our mission" to prevent drug and alcohol use among youths.

"We aren't there to sway voters," said Ramaekers, arguing that regardless of the issues surrounding legalization, people need to learn about the dangers of adolescent use of marijuana.

-- Jeff Mapes