Oregon to Vote on Legalizing Recreational Marijuana in November

By Al Jazeera America

23 July 14

t may be a sign of changing times: After their state rejected a ballot measure to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana just two years ago, Oregonian pot supporters got enough support for the ballot to proceed this time around.

State elections officials certified Tuesday that petitioners have submitted enough valid signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot this year.

Election workers say there were roughly 88,500 valid signatures — about 1,400 more than required.

The measure would allow adults 21 and older to buy and possess marijuana. It gives the Oregon Liquor Control Commission the job of regulating and taxing the plant.

Voters rejected a legalization measure two years ago, when little money was spent promoting it. The group backing this year's effort has received contributions from some of the same donors who backed successful marijuana initiatives earlier in the states of Washington and Colorado.

If the ballot initiative passes, Oregon would become the third state, after Washington and Colorado, to allow the recreational use of marijuana. Several other states permit the drug to be used for medical purposes. Others have conditionally approved the use of the drug, but have not officially legalized it yet.

In another win for marijuana advocates elsewhere, a German court said some individuals should be allowed to grow pot plants for medical use.

The Cologne administrative court ruled Tuesday in favor of three plaintiffs who had sued for the right to grow marijuana for therapeutic purposes, sending the cases back to the government agency responsible for approving medical marijuana products.

The court said the three demonstrated they could not combat their pain any other way and could not afford to purchase medical marijuana, which is permitted in Germany but not usually covered by the country's health insurance system.