Pubdate: Tue, 12 Mar 2013
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2013 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Leland R. Berger

CASH CROP

The Oregonian's editorial about cash-strapped timber counties
overlooked an obvious source of revenue ("Light for forest counties,"
March 8).

Law enforcement officials and The Oregonian have focused attention on
Oregon as a "marijuana producing" state, conflating the sending of
Oregon homegrown cannabis out of state into a public safety problem.
The solution, of course, is the creation of a regulated market for
sales of Oregon-grown cannabis to adults here in Oregon.

The benefit to cash-strapped timber counties? Revenue from taxes on
the production of cannabis, which is, for the most part, cultivated in
these same cash-strapped timber counties.

Ending the prohibition on adult cultivation and possession of cannabis
and regulating its distribution will create revenue streams that can
benefit both state and local governments and help solve the funding
crisis in the timber counties.

Legislators should look closely at House Bill 3371 as a vehicle to
achieve this very result.

LELAND R. BERGER
Northeast Portland
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MAP posted-by: Matt