FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 1, 2015

Contact: Violet Cavendish
vcavendish@mpp.org

By 2016, several more states are likely to approve laws that regulate and tax marijuana for adult use — Ohio voters will consider one this November; a measure in Nevada has qualified for the 2016 ballot and initiatives are also expected to qualify in Arizona, California, Maine, and Massachusetts; and state legislatures in Vermont and Rhode Island appear poised to adopt similar proposals                            

* Statement below from Lauren Vazquez of the Marijuana Policy Project, who is available for comment regarding the national perspective and the next states to make marijuana legal *

SALEM — Legal adult marijuana sales began in Oregon on Thursday, making it the third state in the nation to initiate a regulated marijuana market for adults. Regulated adult sales are currently taking place in Colorado and Washington, and they are expected to commence in Alaska in the spring or summer of 2016.

Adults 21 years of age and older will be able to legally purchase up to a quarter-ounce of marijuana and up to four marijuana plant seedlings from certain medical marijuana dispensaries, which are regulated by the Oregon Health Authority. This allowance, approved by the legislature in July and signed by Gov. Kate Brown, gives adults a legal and regulated access point to purchase marijuana while the state develops a regulatory structure that will govern the adult-use marijuana market. That system is expected to be implemented late next year and will be overseen by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. The voter initiative that made marijuana legal, Measure 91, was approved 56%-44% in 2014.

Ohio voters are considering a proposal this November that would legalize and regulate marijuana for medical and broader adult use. By 2016, several more states are expected to pass laws that regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol. An initiative in Nevada has qualified for the November 2016 ballot, and similar measures are expected to qualify in Arizona, California, Maine, and Massachusetts. Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell said earlier this month that he expects state lawmakers to adopt a similar proposal next year. There also appears to be majority support for one in the Rhode Island Legislature.

Statement from Lauren Vazquez, deputy director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project:

“Oregon officials made a very wise decision to start shifting adult marijuana sales out of the underground market and into regulated businesses. Most people would prefer to follow the law and purchase marijuana safely and legally inside stores rather than on the street. Voters wanted a sensible alternative to marijuana prohibition and that’s what they’re getting.

“This is a major step forward for Oregon, and we hope it will set an example for others. States are proving that regulating marijuana works, both for medical and broader adult use. We expect to see several more states adopt similar laws over the next couple years, and it’s only a matter of time before Congress follows. The marijuana prohibition era is steadily coming to an end.”

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Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms.

Visit www.mpp.org for more information.