Anna Staver

Statesman Journal

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer announced Friday that he wants an Oregon speaking tour critical of marijuana investigated for potentially spending taxpayer dollars "illegally to influence a statewide election."

"The bias of the speakers selected, the overall one-sided focus of the events, and the proximity between these events and the election are cause for concern," Blumenauer wrote in a letter to the Director of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli.

Oregonians vote this November on Measure 91, which asks whether they want to legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 or older.

But a month before the election, the Oregon Marijuana Education Tour plans to kick off a 12-city statewide tour.

The problem for Blumenauer and the the Yes on 91 campaign is that the events are sponsored by drug abuse prevention programs that receive federal grant money.

"It's illegal to use taxpayer money to influence an election," Yes on 91 spokesman Peter Zuckerman said. "Calling this an education tour is preposterous ... It's put on by the leading opponents of our measure right before ballots drop."

The tour features Kevin Sabet, a nationally known opponent of legalization, and Clatsop County District Attorney Joshua Marquis, who has spoken on behalf of the No on Measure 91 campaign, as speakers.

Tour organizers said presenters won't discuss the ballot measure at any of the events.

The tour is part of "an ongoing effort to provide public education and outreach" that was in the works long before marijuana legalization was on the ballot, according to a press release.

Zuckerman said that misses the point because "the newspaper ads for the tour are blatantly anti-marijuana."

He also took issue with the person who placed newspaper ads for the tour. Mandi Puckett worked for BestCare Treatment Practices before leaving in August to work for No on 91.

"One of the primary duties of a prevention coordinator is to provide evidence-based prevention education to the public," Puckett said in a statement. "I am saddened to see my former employer, other coordinators and coalitions across the state bullied by a pro-marijuana politician simply for doing the job we were funded and approved to do."