Date: Tue, 7 Jan 1997 23:28:59 -0800 (PST) From: "Anti-Prohibition Lg." <[aal 01] at [teleport.com]> To: [AAL 01] at [teleport.com] Subject: Oregon Drugs Control Amendment, Next Phase: *** *** *** The AMERICAN ANTI-PROHIBITION ***** ***** *** LEAGUE *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Sponsors of the *********** *********** *** OREGON DRUGS CONTROL AMENDMENT ************* ************* ************ *** *** *** *** ************ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Drug War, or : 3125 SE BELMONT STREET PORTLAND OREGON 97214 Drug Peace?" : 503-235-4524/fax:503-234-1330/Email:[AAL 01] at [teleport.com] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ January 7, 1997 re: Oregon Drugs Control Amendment ODCA ENTERS PETITION CERTIFICATION PHASE Yesterday, the American Anti-Prohibition League, a grass-roots political organization advocating reform of current drug policies, submitted the necessary paper work to the Oregon Secretary of State's office for filing the Oregon Drugs Control Amendment petition. This filing represents the formal conclusion of a three month drafting process that involved over one-hundred co-authors. While we're not certain, it's possible the ODCA could be the first piece of citizen legislation ever to evolve directly out of the internet. A great deal of the help and credit for production of the ODCA goes to the board of advisors, and members of the Drug Reform Coordination Network, DRCNet, ([d r ctalk] at [drcnet.org]). From this electronic fountainhead some of the best and brightest minds from academia to activists on the streets have examined, tore apart, and put together again this revolutionary document. The league is also grateful to the Drug Policy Foundation, for their generous financial support of DRCNet. It should be noted the ODCA has not been officially endorsed by either DRCNet or the DPF. (Of course we certainly hope both of these forward thinking organizations will endorse, and continue to help the ODCA reach its next phase: BALLOT STATUS.) The Oregon Attorney General has 5 days to submit a draft ballot title to the Secretary of State, and the public now has 15 days to submit challenges to that title, and on the "Single Subject Rule." Once the ODCA petition sheet is certified we need to collect 97,681 signatures of Registered Oregon Voters (ROVs). We have until Friday, July 3, 1998 to turn in the signatures and be on the ballot that November. This means we need to collect an average 1,500 signatures a week between now and then. That's 15 people collecting 100 signatures per week. Remember it only takes a relative few - albeit dedicated - people to dramatically change the course of human events. Indeed, as the famous anthropologist Margret Mead once pointed out, that's usually the only way things ever get done. In solidarity for "Drug Peace!" Floyd Ferris Landrath - Director Here's the ODCA as filed Jan 7th, '97 at 12:09p.m. in Salem, Oregon: THE OREGON DRUGS CONTROL AMENDMENT Sponsored by the American Anti-Prohibition League Portland Oregon *** LEAGUE'S PROPOSED BALLOT TITLE * Amends Constitution: State can control drugs, but can not prohibit adult possession. Result of "YES" vote: Requires state to control the commerce in all drugs, shifts funding to treatment, jobs. Result of "NO" vote: Preserves statutory adult drug prohibitions. Summary: Amends constitution. Measure grants legislative power to regulate drugs, but not prohibit adult possession, as defined in new statutory laws called the Oregon Drugs Control Act. Measure requires regulation be based on medical and public health factors. Measure requires minimum legal age, defines controls and exceptions. Measure releases non-violent drug offenders from prison, provides expanded drug treatment, education, job training and/or placement assistance. Measure shifts money from corrections, and gambling, alcohol, and tobacco taxes if needed. Measure must be fully implemented by January 1, 2000. ====================================================================== * -- This wording has not been approved by The State of Oregon. THE OREGON DRUGS CONTROL AMENDMENT Sponsored by the American Anti-Prohibition League Portland Oregon *** The text of an Amendment to the Oregon Constitution: Article I Section xx. Drugs control. (1) The State of Oregon shall have authority to control common drugs of abuse, hereinafter referred to as controlled substances; but henceforth no law shall ever be passed by the State of Oregon to prohibit adult possession of any controlled substance, or to prohibit adult cultivation of any plant material containing any controlled substance, pursuant and subject to the provisions set forth by this section and its consequent legislation. (2) This section supersedes all inconsistent statutes within The Oregon Revised Statues. The Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon, shall repeal and/or amend offending statutes and create a new body of regulatory law within the Oregon Revised Statutes which as a whole will be called, The Oregon Drugs Control Act. The Oregon Drugs Control Act shall define and schedule, with emphasis on medical and public health considerations, all substances deemed to be controlled substances. (3) The Legislative Assembly shall enact into law regulatory provisions relating to this section, to be contained within the Oregon Drugs Control Act which shall define for each controlled substance: (a) A minimum legal age of not greater than 21 years; (b) Reasonable limits on adult personal possession; (c) Adequate public health and consumer safeguards; (d) Adequate manufacturing, price, import, and export controls; (e) Penalties for violations, provisions for enforcement; (f) Exceptions for controlled scientific research; (g) Exceptions under medical and/or parental supervision; (h) Exceptions for traditional, spiritual practices; (i) A defined legal level of impairment; (j) Promotion of temperance, moderation, and safety; (k) On-demand substance abuse and harm reduction programs. (4) Within ninety (90) days of this section's approval by the voters of The State of Oregon, individuals in prison or on parole solely for acts no longer prohibited shall be eligible for release and their records shall be expunged providing they have no prior convictions; individuals who do have prior non-violent, controlled substance-related convictions, and who are not serving a concurrent sentence for any other crime, shall be eligible for parole with special conditions such as: substance abuse treatment, community service, education, and/or job training and placement assistance. (5) Legislation relating to this section will operate uniformly within the State of Oregon and all individuals shall be treated equally; and all provisions, laws, regulations and guidelines shall be carefully constructed for the accomplishment of this section's stated purposes. (6) In no case shall the State of Oregon ever make a net profit from the manufacture or sale of controlled substances. The State of Oregon may impose necessary production and price controls upon the commercial commerce of any controlled substance so that related revenue received by the State of Oregon, and if needed established alcohol, tobacco, and gambling taxes, shall be adequate to fund the on-going expenses of The Oregon Drugs Control Act and all its provisions. In addition, the re-allocation of law enforcement, courts, and corrections spending reductions brought about by this section, shall be used for the initial funding of the Oregon Drugs Control Act and all its provisions. (7) This section shall become effective as soon as practical, and, while certain parts may be implemented separately, this section shall be fully implemented no later than January 1, 2000. (8) If any part of this section is held to be invalid for any reason, then the remaining parts shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect. ================================================================ *** DRUG WAR, or DRUG PEACE? ***