A New PAC Was Created In Oregon To Help Marijuana Legalization Initiative

I received a very important press release tonight from some very hardworking activists on the ground in Oregon. I encourage all of our readers to donate to Oregonians for Law Reform and help Oregon legalize marijuana this November. Oregon has lagged in donations compared to Washington and Colorado, which as an Oregonian, I find saddening. Oregonians for Law Reform has currently raised $1,000. If you are a large funder, and you are reading this, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???:

PORTLAND, Sept. 17 - A new group is campaigning for Measure 80, arguing that the prohibition of marijuana has failed and that new directions like that outlined in the measure must be pursued instead.

Sam Chapman, co-director of the new group, Oregonians for Law Reform, said, “Ending prohibition is an idea whose time has come, again. We will urge voters to rally behind Measure 80, not get bogged down in the typical pro and con rhetoric around the details of an initiative. We must show our support for this measure to help build momentum for victory, either in November or some time soon.”

With less than 60 days left until Election Day, advocates in three states—Oregon, Colorado, and Washington—are facing crunch time for fundraising and “getting out the vote” for the regulation of marijuana. OLR will advocate for Measure 80 separately from the existing initiative campaign, with a more focused message around ending prohibition, and with tactics both to reach out to mainstream voters and pro-legalization supporters.

“Our strategy is centered around traditional media ad buy, campus voter registration drives, massive social media presence, as well as coordinated get out the vote efforts and earned media, such as holding town halls, fundraisers, local TV and radio appearances. We are going to run a campaign with a clear and concise message for the mainstream voters—who already agree with us that it’s time to end prohibition again in Oregon,” says Sam Chapman, Co-Director of the Oregonians for Law Reform.

OLR believes that the passage of Measure 80 is imperative. Measure 80 will:

· Free up law enforcement resources spent on marijuana prohibition

· Establish a regulated supply system that will take the profits out of the hands of criminals

· Provide a much needed source of revenue and jobs for Oregonians

As recently as last year, Rasmussen polling showed that 56% of Americans supported ending adult marijuana prohibition. With Measure 80 on the ballot, Oregon is once again in the position to pioneer progressive public policy with its passage.

Oregonians spend tens of millions of dollars per year to prosecute marijuana crimes, while cutting funding for education and other programs that are vital to our state. OLR supports all progressive law reform efforts in Oregon that make sense from a public policy standpoint with the ultimate goal of making our communities stronger and safer.

To contact Oregonians for Law Reform visit www.OregonLawReform.com, email us at info@oregonlawreform.com