
In just a couple months, Oregon will have the opportunity to join Washington and Colorado in an effort to be the third state to fully legalize marijuana for recreational use.



The ballot initiative, known as Measure 91, is up for vote on Nov. 4 and will allow the consumption of marijuana for any adults 21-and-over if approved. Oregonians would be able to have up to one ounce of marijuana in their possession in public areas, but can possess as much as eight ounces in the comfort of their home.



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They'll also be able to grow their own crop, similar to Colorado's state laws. It's currently unknown how many plants an adult would be able to grow, but if going by Colorado's laws, any adult would be able to grow up to 6 plants, 3 mature and 3 immature.



The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon feels Oregon should pass the initiative to legalize marijuana, claiming that money from taxpayers is being wasted on marijuana-related arrests and prosecutions.



Taxes would be imposed at the point of sale like most transactions, where Oregonians could expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $35 per ounce depending on the quality of the marijuana. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission will be monitoring these regulations.



The revenue made from marijuana sales taxes are estimated to be around $40 million per year, which will also reportedly be used to fund educational programs including schools, as well as drug prevention programs.



This wouldn't be the first opportunity for Oregon to legalize marijuana for recreational use. They tried in 2012 but were unable to get the necessary financial backers in order to raise enough awareness of the initiative.



However, they're increasing their efforts to raise awareness this year, as $2.3 million from sponsors is being used for TV advertising.



In a poll conducted by the Huffington Post, 63 percent of potential 2014 Oregon voters showed support to legalize marijuana.



In addition to Oregon voting for marijuana legalization in November, Alaska has an initiative up for vote that would decriminalize marijuana use for adults, while Washington, D.C. will be voting to legalize possession and home cultivation of marijuana.




TagsMarijuana legaliztion, Oregon, colorado, Measure 91, Tax Revenue, November ballot