Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 News Conference

Organizers of a new Oregon state initiative campaign, Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 (OCTA2012), announce the kickoff of their petition drive and opening of their new office. The Oregon Secretary of State's Election Division just announced the approval of the petition, Initiative Number 9, for circulation and signature gathering on March 24th. Organizers have until July 7, 2012 to gather 90,000 registered Oregon voters' signatures to qualify for the November 6, 2012 ballot.

Organizers rallied petitioners at their new office on Monday, March 28th and held a news conference. The state campaign committee is working to achieve ballot status in three ways: hiring paid petitioners, organizing volunteer petitioners and soliciting Oregon registered voters signatures online.

The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act of 2012 will regulate the legal sale of marijuana to adults through state-licensed stores, allow adults to grow their own, license Oregon farmers to grow marijuana for state-licensed stores and allow unlicensed Oregon farmers to grow cannabis hemp for fuel, fiber and food. OCTA2012 will raise $140 million a year by taxing commercial cannabis sales to adults 21 years of age and older, and save an estimated $61.5 million as law enforcement, corrections and judicial attention can focus on violent crimes and theft. We estimate this will amount to $200 million a year more funding for state government. Ninety percent of the proceeds will go into the state general fund, 7% for drug treatment programs, one percent each for drug education in public schools, and two new state commissions to promote hemp biofuel and hemp fiber and food.

OCTA2012 is also announcing a series of three benefit concerts featuring reggae music legend, Toots & the Maytals on 4th of July weekend. Toots & the Maytals will headline three shows, starting at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene on Saturday, July 2nd, then the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond on Sunday, July 3rd, and culminating at the Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater in Portland on Monday the 4th of July. Toots & the Maytals first Jamaican hit record, "Do the Reggae" in 1966, named the new music genre and their music was featured in the 1972 cult movie classic, "The Harder They Come." Toots has recorded with many other headliners, and his recent album, True Love, featured duets with Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Ben Harper, No Doubt and more. True Love won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album of 2005. Toots & the Maytals hold the current record of number one hits in Jamaica, with a total of thirty one. The Independence Day Benefit will be the first show at Portland's Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater since Ziggy Marley played there 12 years ago.

Paul Stanford, Chief Petitioner & Treasurer
Jennifer Alexander, Campaign Manager

Support Sensible Regulation!
Learn more: http://www.cannabistaxact.org

Video Footage: Hemp News, Portland, Oregon
March 28, 2011

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[johndenton46]

Excellent presentation clearly conveys the social, legal, and economic benefits of legalization in Oregon, which with California is leading the cause for the whole planet. Spread it around.