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One of the groups seeking to legalize marijuana in Oregon found out this week they won't have to face an expected legal challenge to their initiative's ballot title.

(Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

Backers of an Oregon marijuana legalization measure received some welcome news from the state Supreme Court this week -- no one filed a l

.

That means they can soon complete the paperwork allowing them to begin gathering the 87,213 signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot.

Anthony Johnson, executive director of New Approach Oregon, said he was expecting a legal challenge to the ballot title that could keep the initiative on ice for another month or two while it was reviewed by the Supreme Court.

Attorney Michael McNichols of Canby

, Initiative Petition 37, and filed comments with the secretary of state's office objecting to the newer measure,

, filed by New Approach Oregon. But he didn't appeal this time.

McNichols, who

, could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

Johnson said members of his group and their financial backers will now meet and figure out their next step. Should they finish up the paperwork so they can begin gathering signatures on IP 53? Or should they wait and see what kind of ballot title they get from the Supreme Court for IP 37?

Whatever the case, "it's definitely great news" that his campaign has the option of moving forward soon on petitioning, Johnson said. The group has until July 3 to gather the needed signatures, so time is starting to get short.

Both versions of the measure would allow 21-and-over adults to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana. New Approach Oregon received

before his

as well as $50,000 from the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance.

Paul Stanford, who runs a Portland-based chain of medical marijuana clinics, is already

aimed at legalizing marijuana. Stanford would allow adults to possess up to 24 ounces of marijuana.

-- Jeff Mapes