1. Current Event Six
Legalize Marijuana
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/bill_to_legalize_tax_marijuana.html
! Oregon is next on the list for trying to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
They want to have House Bill 3371 be under consideration of Oregon Legislature. This
bill would allow the production, processing, and sale of marijuana. The rules that
accompany this bill will be that individuals must be at least 21, are restricted to only own
six plants, and can have no more than 24 ounces at one time. Those who wish to
actually sell must go through a licensing process as well as face taxes. Produces must
pay thirty five dollars in taxes per ounce of marijuana. A “Cannabis Tax Account” will be
created where 40% of the money goes to schools, 20% goes to the police, and the rest
goes into general funding.
! The bill is scheduled for a hearing April 2nd. The bill actually would help the
agriculture in Oregon since they would start mass producing hemp. Currently the
production of hemp is banned but this bill will fight that too. The way the bill is worded
allows employers to still forbid the use, production, or delivery, from taking place at the
work place. The biggest issue is that while it will be legal in the state, it is still forbidden
by federal law. So the battle on legalizing marijuana still has a long way to go.
! I think they should legalize marijuana. Itʼs no more harmful than tobacco products
or alcohol. Plus, people are going to do it whether itʼs legal or not. They need to just
legalize it and add it to the list of sin taxes. Tax the heck out of it and thatʼs one more
thing to help our economy recover. If marijuana was actually fully legalized both on a
state level and a federal level, I think the government would be surprised to see how
much money that actually would bring in through sin taxes. So I say why not? Letʼs do it.
Tara Pawlyk Tuesday, March 19, 2013 8:17:41 AM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88