Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
PORTLAND, OR - California legislators are considering loosening
marijuana laws, to cope with a yawning budget hole. From Oregon
Public Broadcasting, April Baer reports that Oregon police officers
are keeping a wary eye on the discussion.
Todd Anderson is President of the Oregon State Sheriff's
Association. If lawmakers in Sacramento decriminalize marijuana so
they can tax it, Anderson says California police won't be the only
ones affected.
Anderson: "Much like what happened when the legal drinking age in
the state of Idaho was 18-19., and people would cross the borders
to obtain their alcohol there, Oregonians may attempt to do the
same thing, cross state lines to purchase marijuana legally, come
back to Oregon where it's illegal and put that up for sale."
For now, Bay Area Rep Tom Ammiano's proposal will be discussed in
committee. It's unlikely to make it to a vote before January.
California Governor Schwarzenegger says he's open to a robust
debate on the idea. California's illegal pot industry has an estimated
worth of fourteen billion dollars per year.
Copyright 2009 Oregon Public Broadcasting