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An initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana appears headed to the November ballot. Sponsors say they have gathered 145,000 signatures and will turn them in Thursday.

(Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

Officials for New Approach Oregon say they will submit 145,000 signatures to the secretary of state Thursday for their initiative to legalize marijuana in the state.

"We've gathered about 60,000 more than necessary, so I can say we're confident we'll qualify" for the November ballot, said Peter Zuckerman, a spokesman for the group. The measure needs 87,213 valid signatures from registered voters to go before voters at the general election.

The initiative effort has been largely financed by several major out-of-state donors and received key help from the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, which also drafted the 2012 marijuana legalization passed by Washington state voters.

Portland businessman Paul Stanford last week announced he would drop his own two measures to legalize marijuana after it became clear that he couldn't collect signatures by the July 3 deadline.

In addition to Washington, Colorado voters legalized marijuana in 2012. And a legalization measure will be on the Alaska ballot this November.

The Oregon measure would allow possession of up to eight ounces of marijuana at home and one ounce in public, although smoking in public would be prohibited.

Sales of the drug would be regulated by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and tax revenues would be distributed among schools, police and programs dealing with drug prevention and treatment and mental health.

Oregon already has a medical marijuana law and this year began allowing sales to patients with a medical marijuana card out of storefront dispensaries.

-- Jeff Mapes