Meanwhile, in Oregon, "a bill that would ask Oregon voters if they want to legalize marijuana while leaving the regulations up to the Legislature passed its first committee last Thursday.
Senate Bill 1556 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 3-2 vote, with all Democrats supporting it and all Republicans opposing, reports Jeff Mapes at The Oregonian. The bill now goes to the Senate Rules Committee." h/t Salem News
This isn't especially surprising given the progressive bent of Oregon residents and voters. Still, in the event that Oregon legislators do pass one of the two competing legalization bills, Oregon would be only the 3rd state, after Colorado and Washington, to legalize marijuana.
Onto the 2 bills in question:
"Initiative 21 would amend the Oregon Constitution, ending criminal penalties for cannabis and permitting adult recreational marijuana use, possession and cultivation. Initiative 22, the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2014, creates a commission to regulate the cultivation, processing, and sale of marijuana, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for the Oregon General Fund, helping to pay for schools, roads, and social services." h/t Salem News
Between the two bills, Initiative 22 seems like the better choice in light of the federal government's seeming interest in a bona fide development plan rather than outright decriminalization. Having said that, as well-stated by David Sarasohn in a column over at the Oregonian, the federal government's marijuana policies and public statements on legalization (or even an updated drug classification) evidence a myriad of conflicting ideas.