2014 Oregon Ballot Measure 91

Oregon Ballot Measure 91 was a 2014 ballot measure in the U.S. state of Oregon. Its passage legalized the "recreational use of marijuana, based on regulation and taxation to be determined by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission".[1]

Ballot Measure 91
Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act of 2014
  • Legalize recreational marijuana for those aged 21 and above.
  • Legalize possession of up to eight ounces of marijuana and four plants.
  • Give the Oregon Liquor Control Commission the ability to regulate marijuana.
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 847,865 56.11%
No 663,346 43.89%
Valid votes 1,511,211 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,511,211 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 2,178,334 69.37%

Measure 91 was the third initiative seeking to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Oregon; previous measures were 1986's Measure 5 and 2012's Measure 80 while medical use of marijuana was legalized in Oregon in 1998. Measure 91 passed by approximately 56% to 44%.[2] Most polls leading up to the election showed majority support for legalizing recreational marijuana use among adults.[3][4][5][6]

Implementation

Effective July 1, 2015 (per Section 82(1)) the measure legalizes the possession and use of marijuana for adults 21-years of age or older. Adults can carry up to one ounce of marijuana, keep up to eight ounces at home per household, and grow up to four plants per household.[7][8]

Retail sales outlets will be licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which must begin accepting applications on or before January 4, 2016.[7] Early sales started October 1, 2015 through existing medical marijuana dispensaries.[9] Sales topped $11 million in the first week that recreational marijuana was legally available for sale in Oregon.[10]

Fiscal impact

Estimates project that the initiative would generate between $17 million to $40 million per year in tax revenue. Potential cost savings for the state and local governments were noted though not explicitly identified in monetary terms due to uncertainty of the measure's full effects on marijuana-related convictions and fines.[11]

Opponents and proponents

Opponents

In September 2014 the Oregon District Attorneys Association and Oregon State Sheriffs Association launched an organized opposition, Vote No on 91.[12][13] Local opponents included The Oregon Pediatric Society, the Oregon chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Medal of Honor recipient Robert D. Maxwell, state representatives John Huffman and Gene Whisnant, state senator Tim Knopp, the Oregon Republican Party, and others.[14]

Proponents

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Yes No Undecided
SurveyUSA October 23–27, 2014 552 ± 4.3% 52% 41% 7%
Elway Research October 26–27, 2014 403 ± 5.0% 44% 46% 7%
SurveyUSA October 16–19, 2014 561 ± 4.2% 48% 37% 15%
DHM Research Archived 2014-10-30 at the Wayback Machine October 8–11, 2014 516 ± 4.3% 52% 41% 7%
SurveyUSA September 22–24, 2014 568 ± 4.2% 44% 40% 16%
SurveyUSA August 1–5, 2014 564 ± 4.2% 51% 42% 6%
SurveyUSA June 5–9, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 51% 41% 8%

Results
Measure 91
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 847,865 56.11
No 663,346 43.89
Total votes 1,511,211 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 2,178,334 69.37

Yes-votes on Ballot Measure 91 prevailed in 13 counties, including Multnomah County by a margin of over 40 percent. Likewise, no-votes on Ballot Measure 91 prevailed in 23 counties, although Josephine County barely rejected the measure by just two votes, and Yamhill County only by 60 votes.

County Yes Votes No Votes Total
Baker 40.53 2,939 59.47 4,313 7,252
Benton 60.49 23,092 39.51 15,086 38,178
Clackamas 52.12 83,159 47.88 76,399 159,558
Clatsop 56.47 8,251 43.53 6,361 14,612
Columbia 53.43 10,898 46.57 9,500 20,398
Coos 53.55 13,083 46.45 11,348 24,431
Crook 41.15 3,747 58.85 5,358 9,105
Curry 57.08 5,590 42.92 4,204 9,794
Deschutes 51.86 37,018 48.14 34,366 71,384
Douglas 45.49 19,214 54.51 23,020 42,234
Gilliam 40.88 370 59.12 535 905
Grant 35.20 1,171 64.80 2,156 3,327
Harney 34.28 1,036 65.72 1,986 3,022
Hood River 57.64 4,913 42.36 3,611 8,524
Jackson 53.37 44,843 46.63 39,181 84,024
Jefferson 43.72 3,073 56.28 3,956 7,029
Josephine 49.99 17,311 50.01 17,313 34,624
Klamath 43.87 10,228 56.13 13,084 23,312
Lake 38.14 1,232 61.86 1,998 3,230
Lane 60.65 89,926 39.35 58,352 148,278
Lincoln 61.96 12,349 38.04 7,583 19,932
Linn 47.26 21,043 52.74 23,483 44,526
Malheur 31.28 2,394 68.72 5,260 7,654
Marion 48.44 50,423 51.56 53,670 104,093
Morrow 34.02 1,097 65.98 2,128 3,225
Multnomah 71.38 213,137 28.62 85,474 298,611
Polk 47.75 14,697 52.25 16,084 30,781
Sherman 38.55 350 61.45 558 908
Tillamook 55.43 6,016 44.57 4,837 10,853
Umatilla 37.20 7,181 62.80 12,122 19,303
Union 40.96 4,258 59.04 6,138 10,396
Wallowa 38.84 1,423 61.16 2,241 3,664
Wasco 48.98 4,637 51.02 4,830 9,467
Washington 55.40 108,846 44.60 87,638 196,484
Wheeler 36.47 260 63.53 453 713
Yamhill 49.92 18,660 50.08 18,720 37,380

Source: Oregon State Elections Division[24]

See also

References
  1. Wong, Peter (August 1, 2014). "Numbers assigned to state measures". Portland Tribune. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  2. "Measure 91: Oregon voters pass legalization of recreational marijuana". KPTV. 2014-11-04. Archived from the original on 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2014-11-04.
  3. Mapes, Jeff (May 8, 2014). "Gay marriage, marijuana legalization measures show strong support in new Oregon poll". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  4. Elliott, Steve (June 13, 2014). "Oregon: New Poll Shows 51% Want To Legalize Marijuana In November". Hemp News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  5. Ferner, Matt (July 22, 2014). "Oregon Will Vote On Legalizing Recreational Marijuana In 2014". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  6. Walker, Jon (October 15, 2014). "Oregon Marijuana Legalization Initiative Winning in Latest Poll". Firedoglake. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  7. Gordon, Tim (October 28, 2014). "Decoding legal pot: Answering questions on Measure 91". KGW.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  8. Mansur, Keith. "Three is a Magic Number - Oregon Cannabis Connection". Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  9. "Pot's legal in Oregon: Scenes from the first day of sales". OregonLive.com. October 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  10. Mehlhaf, Nina. "Oregon's first week of recreational pot sales tops $11 million. This is greater by a very wide margin than the first-week sales totals of both Colorado and Washington combined". kgw.com. KGW. Archived from the original on May 23, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  11. Chokshi, Niraj (August 11, 2014). "Oregon expects up to $40 million in new revenue annually if voters legalize pot this fall". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  12. Jaquiss, Nigel; Wilson, Kate (August 12, 2014). "Organized Opposition Mounts Against Recreational Weed Campaign". Willamette Week. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  13. Mapes, Jeff (September 29, 2014). "Marijuana legalization: Opponents open campaign attacking pot products attractive to children". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  14. "Our Supporters". Vote No on 91. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  15. Elliott, Steve (September 4, 2014). "Oregon: Measure 91 Wins More Major Endorsements For Marijuana Legalization". Hemp News. Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  16. "Democratic Party of Oregon Chooses Positions on Statewide Ballot Initiatives". Democratic Party of Oregon. August 20, 2014. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  17. Altieri, Erik (August 20, 2014). "Democratic Party of Oregon Endorses Marijuana Legalization Initiative". National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  18. "Blumenauer, Marquis debate whether Oregon marijuana law is already sufficiently mellow". The Oregonian. September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  19. "Exclusive Interview: Merkley First U.S. Senator To Back Legalizing Marijuana". Talking Points Memo. October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  20. Mapes, Jeff (October 25, 2013). "With national backing, marijuana advocates file legalization measure". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  21. "Anthony Johnson: 14 People Who Made a Difference in 2014". Go Local PDX. December 22, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  22. "It's time to legalize recreational marijuana: Editorial endorsement". The Oregonian. August 23, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  23. "Legal, regulated marijuana: Yes". The Register-Guard. September 28, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  24. Elections Division (December 4, 2014). "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes - Measure 91". Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved 2014-12-05.
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