STATUS:   There were 6 Bills concerning Cannabis (marijuana) in the Oregon State Legislature this session, none ending to our benefit. Time for all good NORML people to come to the aid of their cause and, as a Voter - and person who knows other Voters - de-lect, de-fund and otherwise dis-empower those worked against us these last two sessions, as well as prepare for next session as a Lobbyist and an organizer. Update your lists of names, make new friends, meet new groups. Now is the time to bring pressure, and in the future.

So what we're asking everyone to do is:

Find out how your Oregon State Senator and Reps voted and Vote accordingly. For list of bills, talking points, and all the details, Visit - mercycenters.org/legis/2014/

Also -   You can find a list of those Committee members here:   http://www.leg.state.or.us/committees/ ... and ... All bills may be viewed at the state web site here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bills_laws/

Then, tell everybody you know about it. Then tell everybody you don't know. Yet.

Get back to us with names so we can update our Voters Guides and enable everybody else to do the same.

If you want to work in Salem and are interested in helping please give us a call, we will network you with the "Things To Do" work group(s). Or, If you have ideas also call us and we can discuss and direct you to the appropriate people or group.

You may also get hard copies if you are in Salem by going to the bill room downstairs in the Capitol.

NOTEs on PUBLIC HEARINGs for future ref.

Staff respectfully requests that you submit 15 collated copies of written materials at the time of your testimony and, if possible, an electronic copy of materials provided to staff 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Persons making presentations, including the use of video, DVD, PowerPoint or overhead projection equipment are asked to contact committee staff and provide an electronic copy 24 hours prior to the meeting.

ADA accommodation requests should be directed to Karen Hupp, or Juliene Popinga, ADA Coordinators, at employee.services@state.or.us or by telephone at 1-800-332-2313. Requests for accommodation should be made at least 72 hours in advance.

a List; NOTE: There are 3 Initiatives in session, see - here - for latest on How To yourself.

Will Oregon Have Three Marijuana Initiatives This Year? | Oregonians going to the polls this November could have the chance to vote twice to legalize marijuana, or maybe even three times. Two separate legalization initiative campaigns are underway there, and both have a good shot at actually making it onto the ballot. And one of those campaigns also includes a constitutional amendment that could also make the ballot. Oregon very nearly joined Colorado and Washington in legalizing it in 2012, when the underfunded Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA) got more than 47% of the vote. Prospects have only gotten brighter since then. A recent poll showed solid majorities for a specific tax and regulate question (58%) and for a generic legalization question (64%). And even sectors of the state's political establishment have suggested that legalization is an idea whose time has come. Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) urged the legislature to pass a bill that would put its version of a legalization initiative before the voters. That bill died when the session ran out, but it garnered some support in Salem. >> Read more >>

The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act campaign, a double-pronged effort led by the controversial but persevering medical marijuana entrepreneur Paul Stanford, who put OCTA on the ballot in 2012, is already well into the signature-gathering process, >> cannabistaxact.org/

Initiative 21 - | The Oregon Cannabis Amendment (OCA) >> oregonvotes.org/irr/2014/021text.pdf

Initiative 22 - | The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA) >> oregonvotes.org/irr/2014/022text.pdf

Initiative 53 - | New Approach Oregon, We need a new approach on marijuana in Oregon. Strict regulation and taxation, creating funding for schools, drug treatment and law enforcement, while taking money away from criminal organizations. Our approach will improve Oregon’s economy by establishing tax-paying businesses to regulate marijuana sales to adults. Let’s create revenue here in Oregon. Our approach won't impact labor law, change current DUII law or give access to minors under 21. >> newapproachoregon.com/

a List; NOTE: There were 6 items in session, see - here - for latest.

SENATE BILL 1531 - At the request of: (at the request of Association of Oregon Counties and League of Oregon Cities) Chief Sponsors: Senator Hansell , Senator Monroe , Senator Starr Regular Sponsors: Senator Baertschiger Jr , Senator Boquist , Senator Close , Senator Ferrioli , Senator Girod , Senator Johnson , Senator Knopp , Representative Esquivel , Senator Kruse , Senator Monnes Anderson , Representative Jenson , Senator Olsen , Representative Thatcher , Senator Thomsen , Representative Thompson , Senator Whitsett , Representative Whisnant , Senator Winters , Representative Witt (Presession Filed) | Relating to marijuana facilities; declaring an emergency. SB 1531 Specifies that governing body of city or county may prohibit the establishment or regulate or restrict the operation of medical marijuana facilities. >> Read text

SENATE BILL 1556 - At the request of: Chief Sponsors: Senator Prozanski , Representative Buckley Regular Sponsors: Senator Dembrow , Senator Steiner Hayward , Representative Barker , Representative Barnhart , Representative Frederick , Representative Holvey(Presession Filed) | Relating to marijuana [ Legalization ]; providing that this Act shall be referred to the people for their approval or rejection. SB 1556 eclares that person 21 years of age or older legally should be able to possess, transfer or produce marijuana. >> Read text

HOUSE BILL 4023 - At the request of: (at the request of House Interim Committee on Veterans' Services and Emergency Preparedness) Chief Sponsors: Regular Sponsors: (Presession Filed) | Relating to veterans; appropriating money; declaring an emergency. Designates portion of U.S. Highway 26 within Warm Springs Reservation as Warm Springs Veterans Memorial Highway. HB 4023 also allows 100 percent disabled veterans to pay discounted fee for annual medical marijuana cards. >> Read text

HOUSE BILL 4068 - At the request of: Chief Sponsors: Representative Gomberg , Representative Thatcher Regular Sponsors: Senator Prozanski , Representative Barker , Representative Esquivel , Representative Krieger , Representative Weidner (Presession Filed) | Relating to concealed handgun license applicants previously charged with marijuana offenses. Summary: Modifies requirements for concealed handgun license applicants. Currently, a person who has been convicted of a violation for possessing marijuana is not disqualified from obtaining a concealed firearms permit if otherwise eligible to do so. >> Read text

HOUSE BILL 4098 - At the request of: Chief Sponsors: Representative Hicks Regular Sponsors: (Presession Filed) | Relating to crime; declaring an emergency. Summary: Allows Department of Corrections inmates to receive credit for time served for presentence incarceration after arrest for lesser included offense, greater inclusive offense or crime committed during same criminal episode as sentencing crime. HB 4098 also Removes marijuana and marijuana products from the commercial drug offense list. >> Read text

HOUSE BILL 4099 - At the request of: Chief Sponsors: Representative Hicks (Presession Filed) | Relating to marijuana; declaring an emergency. Summary: Directs Department of Justice to conduct study on laws of this state that would need to be amended if people of this state vote to legalize marijuana at next regular general election held throughout this state. >> Read text

Others?   !PLEASE!   Let Us Know!

Use these links help with contacting state reps:   ( Find Your Legislator ),   ( write your legislator ),   See List of OR St. Reps  or  ( the House )  and  List of OR St. Sens page,  or  ( the Senate )

To check up on bills; here is the link to the search bills page

http://www.leg.state.or.us/searchmeas.html

click on search for specific measure ...fill in the blanks on the page, hit enter and you will get the text of any bill. For example, try typing "marijuana" in the search engine for new bills. Also look for “cannabis” and we should not forget to mention “hemp” at some time.

Or … If one wants PDF with changes bolded one can also go here:

http://landru.leg.state.or.us/13reg/measures/

click on the directory like HB 2600's and find it in PDF instead of just HTML.

These web links tell you what committee a bill goes to. For senate bills: http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/pubs/senmh.html

for house bills: http://www.leg.state.or.us/13reg/pubs/hsemh.html

Oregon 2014 ballot measures - Ballotpedia | ... Oregon ballot measures have been approved by voters. Conversely, 86 of 161, or 53%, of measures have been defeated. On the ballot ... Oregon Initiative, ... Three statewide ballot measures are certified for the November 4, 2014 ballot in the state of Oregon. The 2014 legislative session began on February 3, 2014 and concluded on March 10, 2014. During that time, two legislatively-referred constitutional amendments were put on the November general election ballot. According to Section 1, Article XVIII of the Oregon Constitution a majority vote of both chambers of the Oregon State Legislature is required to place an amendment proposed by the legislature on the statewide ballot. A veto referendum is also certified for the ballot. In order to qualify for the ballot, supporters of the measure were required to collect a minimum of 58,142 valid signatures within 90 days after the end of the 2013 legislative session. The secretary of state set the referendum's petition deadline for October 4, 2013. Supporters turned in nearly 71,000 signatures, though the secretary of state's office confirmed that only 58,291 of these proved to be valid. Eleven citizen initiatives have the potential to appear on the November general election ballot. In order for this to happen, supporters must collect and submit the required number of valid signatures - 116,284 for amendments and 87,213 for statutes - by the July 3, 2014 filing deadline. >> ballotpedia.org/Oregon_2014_ballot_measures

Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon - Ballotpedia | Signatures for Oregon initiatives must be submitted four months prior to the next regular general election. Since these elections are scheduled biennially, ... Citizens of Oregon may initiate legislation as either a state statute or a constitutional amendment. In Oregon, citizens also have the power to repeal legislation via veto referendum. The Oregon State Legislature may also place measures on the ballot as legislatively-referred constitutional amendments or legislatively-referred state statutes with a majority vote of each chamber. Crafting an initiative | Of the 24 states that allow citizens to initiate legislation through the petition process, several states have adopted restrictions and regulations that limit the scope and content of proposed initiatives. These regulations may include laws that mandate that initiatives address only one topic, restrict the range of acceptable topics for proposed laws, prohibit unfunded mandates, and establish guidelines for adjudicating contradictory measures. >> ballotpedia.org/Laws_governing_the_initiative_process_in_Oregon

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