State of Oregon Archives: on Drugs

Val Hoyle: Voted YES on retail medical marijuana establishments

HB 3460: Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments; Concurrence Vote Passed House, 31-28; State Rep. Val Hoyle voted YES:

The Oregon Health Authority shall establish by rule a medical marijuana facility registration system to authorize the transfer of usable marijuana and immature marijuana plants from a marijuana grow site to the medical marijuana facility.
The registration system must require documentation that demonstrates the medical marijuana facility meets the state qualifications
To qualify for registration, a medical marijuana facility:

Must be located in an area that is zoned for commercial or industrial use
May not be located at the same address as a marijuana grow site
Must be registered as a business with the Office of the Secretary of State
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana facility.

Source: 2013-2014 Oregon legislative voting records: HB 3460 Jul 6, 2013

Andrea Salinas: Support marijuana trade between states when federal laws end

Legislative Summary: ?SB582: Authorizes Governor to enter into agreement with another state for purposes of cross-jurisdictional coordination & enforcement of marijuana-related businesses and cross-jurisdictional delivery of marijuana items.

Craft Cannabis Alliance analysis: Senate Bill 582 allows Oregon's governor to enter into agreements with other states for the licensed interstate transfer of cannabis as soon as the federal government indicates that such transactions would no longer be subject to prosecution under federal law. "Oregon's bill is a sensible fix for a myriad of issues that arise when you have a thriving legal market bumping up against the remnants of a failed federal prohibition," said the executive director of the Craft Cannabis Alliance.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 19-9-2 on May/15/19; Passed House 43-16-1 on Jun/11/19; State Rep. Andrea Salinas voted YES; Signed by Governor Kate Brown on Jun/20/19

Source: Craft Cannabis Alliance on Oregon SB582 voting records Jun 11, 2019

Casey Kulla: Added marijuana crop to his organic vegetable farm

Upon starting a marijuana operation on their farm Casey and Katie Kulla encountered no objections from neighbors. The Kullas attribute the lack of controversy to their 10-year history of growing organic vegetables without running into conflicts with surrounding conventional farmers. "We're not perceived as outsiders, which I think is a big problem right now," said Katie Kulla. "Nothing for our neighbors has changed," said Casey Kulla. Source: Capital Press on 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial race Mar 30, 2021

Cliff Bentz: Oppose marijuana trade between states when federal laws end

Legislative Summary: SB582: Authorizes Governor to enter into agreement with another state for purposes of cross-jurisdictional coordination & enforcement of marijuana-related businesses and cross-jurisdictional delivery of marijuana items.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 19-9-2 on May/15/19; State Sen. Cliff Bentz voted NO; Passed House 43-16-1 on Jun/11/19; Signed by Governor Kate Brown on Jun/20/19

Source: Craft Cannabis Alliance on Oregon SB582 voting records Jun 20, 2019

Gordon Harold Smith: Mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs

Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
Require that crimes based on sexual orientation be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.

Source: Oregon Congressional Election 2008 Political Courage Test Jun 18, 2008

Jason Conger: Voted NO on retail medical marijuana establishments

HB 3460: Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments (Concurrence Vote Passed House, 31-28); Conger voted Nay

The Oregon Health Authority shall establish by rule a medical marijuana facility registration system to authorize the transfer of usable marijuana and immature marijuana plants from a marijuana grow site to the medical marijuana facility.
The registration system must require documentation that demonstrates the medical marijuana facility meets the state qualifications
To qualify for registration, a medical marijuana facility:
- Must be located in an area that is zoned for commercial or industrial use
- May not be located at the same address as a marijuana grow site
- Must be registered as a business with the Office of the Secretary of State
- Must not be located within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school
- Must not be located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana facility.

Source: 2013-2014 Oregon Senate & House legislative voting records Jul 6, 2013

Jeff Merkley: Toughen laws against meth traffickers

Merkley says federal money should pay for 500 more police in Oregon. [Merkley proposes] a $309 million anti-crime package aimed at reversing Bush administration cuts in aid to local law enforcement.

Merkley hopes his crime-fighting proposals will respond to voter concerns about high levels of methamphetamine use and cuts to law enforcement in many Oregon communities.

Merkley wants the federal government to pay the costs of adding another 50,000 local police officers around the country, as well as additional prosecutors and resources for crime labs. He would also toughen laws against meth traffickers, toughen reporting requirements for sex offenders and expand federal laws against child pornography.

Source: By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian Jul 2, 2008

Jeff Merkley: Positives of pot legalization outweigh the negatives

Oregon's junior senator said that, on balance, he supports a measure on the November ballot that would legalize marijuana in his state. Sen. Jeff Merkley said that while both sides make strong cases for and against Measure 91, the positives of legalization outweigh the negatives. Here's where he stands:

"I think folks on both sides of the argument make a good case," Merkley said. "And there is concern about a series of new products--and we don't have a real track record from Colorado and Washington. But I feel on balance that we spend a lot of money on our criminal justice system in the wrong places and I lean in favor of this ballot measure."

While politicians nationwide have been reluctant to stake out a position on the issue, Merkley is unlikely to be the last to so explicitly announce his support for legalization as attitudes toward the drug continue to shift. As an increasingly clear majority of Americans support the idea of legalizing the drug, more are expected to follow.

Source: Washington Post on 2014 Oregon Senate debate Oct 24, 2014

Jo Rae Perkins: Don't legalize marijuana federally; leave it to the states

Q: Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?

A: No. But I also believe this is not a federal issue as much as it is a States Powers issue. The federal comes in when marijuana is transported across state lines from a legalized state to a not legalized state. I do not support legalization of other drugs.

Source: Vote Smart Oregon Congressional 2018 NPAT Nov 1, 2018

John Kitzhaber: Decriminalize medicinal marijuana

Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.

Source: Oregon Gubernatorial 1998 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1998

Kate Brown: Liberalize recreational marijuana use but regulate it

Gov. Kate Brown has signed two bills that make key changes to Oregon's recreational marijuana program, including one that removes a 2-year residency requirement for marijuana licensees and another that aims to draw small medical growers into the regulated system.

HB-4014 Legislative Summary:Makes changes to laws regulating production, processing, sale, use and governance of cannabis: A marijuana producer must have a production license; that license must be annually renewed.

SB-1598 Legislative Summary:Exempts research marijuana from requiring a license to produce marijuana;; allows for fingerprinting of applica

Source: The Oregonian on SB-1598 & HB-4014 legislative voting record Mar 7, 2016

Kate Brown: Support marijuana trade between states when federal laws end

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 19-9-2 on May/15/19; Passed House 43-16-1 on Jun/11/19; Signed by Governor Kate Brown on Jun/20/19

Source: Craft Cannabis Alliance on Oregon SB582 voting records Jun 20, 2019

Kevin Stine: Fearful rhetoric about marijuana leads to waste, not safety

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Marijuana is a gateway drug"?

A: Strongly oppose. Decades of fearful rhetoric about the "dangers" of marijuana has led to a waste of human assets, and a waste of taxpayer dollars, without making us safer.

Source: Email interview on 2016 Oregon Senate race with OnTheIssues Jan 1, 2016

Knute Buehler: Federal government needs to respect state laws on marijuana

Rep. Buehler said federal authorities need to back off any intent to tamper with legal marijuana in Oregon. "I hope the new President and Attorney General keep their hands off Oregon's marijuana law," Buehler stated in a news release. "They should respect the will of the voters and honor state's rights. Federal intervention will only make a legal market a black market once again." Buehler, said he sees the potential value in cannabis for treatment of opioid addiction, chronic pain and anxiety. Source: The Bend Bulletin on 2018 Oregon Governor race Feb 24, 2017

Nicholas Kristof: War on drugs one of America's greatest mistakes

One of America's greatest mistakes over the last century was the war on drugs, so it's thrilling to see voters in red and blue states alike moving to unwind it. The most important step is coming in Oregon, where voters easily passed a referendum that will decriminalize possession of even hard drugs like cocaine and heroin, while helping users get treatment for addiction. The idea is to address drug use as a public health crisis more than as a criminal justice issue. Source: The New York Times on 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial race Nov 7, 2020

Nicholas Kristof: Decriminalize to steer addicted people into treatment

Under the new Oregon measure, manufacturing or selling drugs will still be crimes, but possession of small amounts would be equivalent to a traffic ticket. The aim is to steer people into treatment so that they can get help with their addictions. That focus on treatment is critical. Seattle has in effect decriminalized possession of hard drugs, by exercising prosecutorial discretion, but it never adequately funded social services for people wrestling with substance abuse. Source: The New York Times on 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial race Nov 7, 2020

Tina Kotek: Voted YES on retail medical marijuana establishments

HB 3460: Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments; Concurrence Vote Passed House, 31-28; House Speaker Tina Kotek voted YES:

The Oregon Health Authority shall establish by rule a medical marijuana facility registration system to authorize the transfer of usable marijuana and immature marijuana plants from a marijuana grow site to the medical marijuana facility.
The registration system must require documentation that demonstrates the medical marijuana facility meets the state qualifications
To qualify for registration, a medical marijuana facility:

Must be located in an area that is zoned for commercial or industrial use
May not be located at the same address as a marijuana grow site
Must be registered as a business with the Office of the Secretary of State
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana facility.

Source: 2013-2014 Oregon legislative voting records: HB 3460 Jul 6, 2013

Tina Kotek: Support marijuana trade between states when federal laws end

Legislative Summary:SB582: Authorizes Governor to enter into agreement with another state for purposes of cross-jurisdictional coordination & enforcement of marijuana-related businesses and cross-jurisdictional delivery of marijuana items.

Craft Cannabis Alliance analysis:Senate Bill 582 allows Oregon's governor to enter into agreements with other states for the licensed interstate transfer of cannabis as soon as the federal government indicates that such transactions would no longer be subject to prosecution under federal law. "Oregon's bill is a sensible fix for a myriad of issues that arise when you have a thriving legal market bumping up against the remnants of a failed federal prohibition," said the executive director of the Craft Cannabis Alliance.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 19-9-2 on May/15/19; Passed House 43-16-1 on Jun/11/19; House Speaker Tina Kotek voted YES; Signed by Governor Kate Brown on Jun/20/19

Source: Craft Cannabis Alliance on Oregon SB582 voting records Jun 11, 2019

Tobias Read: Led bipartisan coalition for cannabis industry banking

A bipartisan coalition of state treasurers sent a letter to congressional leaders, asking that they include marijuana banking protections in the next piece of coronavirus relief legislation. The letter, led by Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read, says that the current pandemic has underscored the need to pass the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would protect banks that service the cannabis industry from being penalized by federal regulators. Source: Marijuana Moment blog on 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial race Jul 19, 2021

Tobias Read: Voted YES on retail medical marijuana establishments

HB 3460: Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments; Concurrence Vote Passed House, 31-28; State Rep. Tobias Read voted YES:

The Oregon Health Authority shall establish by rule a medical marijuana facility registration system to authorize the transfer of usable marijuana and immature marijuana plants from a marijuana grow site to the medical marijuana facility.
The registration system must require documentation that demonstrates the medical marijuana facility meets the state qualifications
To qualify for registration, a medical marijuana facility:

Must be located in an area that is zoned for commercial or industrial use
May not be located at the same address as a marijuana grow site
Must be registered as a business with the Office of the Secretary of State
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana facility.

Source: 2013-2014 Oregon legislative voting records: HB 3460 Jul 6, 2013

Christine Drazan: Oppose marijuana trade between states when federal laws end

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 19-9-2 on May/15/19; State Rep. Christine Drazan voted NO; Passed House 43-16-1 on Jun/11/19; Signed by Governor Kate Brown on Jun/20/19

Source: Craft Cannabis Alliance on Oregon SB582 voting records Aug 10, 2020

Betsy Johnson: Repeal the failed experiment to legalize hard drugs

Honestly address the role mental illness, drugs, addiction, and lawlessness play in the homeless crisis. This will include working to repeal the failed experiment to legalize hard drugs; supporting law enforcement; and mounting a full court press to provide services to those who need them, combined with job-training to ensure people are placed on the road to recovery, healing, and economic independence. Compassion without expectations is only creating more chaos, not durable solutions. Source: 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial campaign website RunBetsyRun.com Oct 6, 2022

Betsy Johnson: Oppose marijuana trade between states when federal laws end

Legislative Summary:�SB582: Authorizes Governor to enter into agreement with another state for purposes of cross-jurisdictional coordination & enforcement of marijuana-related businesses and cross-jurisdictional delivery of marijuana items.

Craft Cannabis Alliance analysis:Senate Bill 582 allows Oregon's governor to enter into agreements with other states for the licensed interstate transfer of cannabis as soon as the federal government indicates that such transactions would no longer be subject to prosecution under federal law. "Oregon's bill is a sensible fix for a myriad of issues that arise when you have a thriving legal market bumping up against the remnants of a failed federal prohibition," said the executive director of the Craft Cannabis Alliance.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 19-9-2 on May/15/19; State Sen. Betsy Johnson voted No; Passed House 43-16-1 on Jun/11/19; Signed by Governor Kate Brown on Jun/20/19

Source: Craft Cannabis Alliance on Oregon SB582 voting records Aug 10, 2020

Betsy Johnson: Voted NO on retail medical marijuana establishments

HB 3460: Authorizes Retail Medical Marijuana Establishments (Concurrence Vote Passed House, 31-28); State Sen. Betsy Johnson voted Nay

The Oregon Health Authority shall establish by rule a medical marijuana facility registration system to authorize the transfer of usable marijuana and immature marijuana plants from a marijuana grow site to the medical marijuana facility.
The registration system must require documentation that demonstrates the medical marijuana facility meets the state qualifications
To qualify for registration, a medical marijuana facility:

Must be located in an area that is zoned for commercial or industrial use
May not be located at the same address as a marijuana grow site
Must be registered as a business with the Office of the Secretary of State
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school
Must not be located within 1,000 feet of another medical marijuana facility.

Source: 2013-2014 Oregon legislative voting record HB3460 Jul 6, 2013

Ron Wyden: Remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act

Marijuana should be removed from the Controlled Substances Act altogether, not just moved to a lower, lesser-policed classification, leading Democratic senators told federal law enforcement authorities in a letter. "Cannabis should be entirely de-scheduled," seven senators wrote, in part, in their Aug. 2 letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"We recognize and appreciate DEA's effort to address the flaws in our current marijuana policy by using its authority under the CSA and following the scientific and medical evidence to reschedule marijuana as a Schedule III drug," the letter continues. "We urge DEA to finalize the rule."

Cory Booker, D-NJ
Ron Wyden, D-OR
Tina Smith, D-MN
Ben Ray Lujan, D-NM
Patty Murray, D-WA
Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY

Source: MJBizDaily on 2026 Oregon Senate race Aug 5, 2024

Janelle Bynum: Support marijuana trade between states when federal laws end

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 19-9-2 on May/15/19; Passed House 43-16-1 on Jun/11/19; State Rep. Janelle Bynum voted YES; Signed by Governor Kate Brown on Jun/20/19

Source: Craft Cannabis Alliance on Oregon SB582 voting records Jun 11, 2019

The above quotations are from State of Oregon Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
*2024 Presidential contenders on Drugs:*
	*Candidates for President & Vice-President:* V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA) Chase Oliver(L-GA) Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA) Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL) Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH) Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN) Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)	*2024 presidential primary contenders:* Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE) N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R) N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R) Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R) S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R) Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R) Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN) Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH) S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026