With elections around the corner, there are four measures likely to be on the Oregon ballots in November – two from initiative petitions that seem to have enough signatures to qualify, and two others referred to voters by the Oregon Legislature. Here are the four issues likely to be at stake:
House Bill 2270: Referred to by the Oregon Legislature, the passing of this bill would add a $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes, as well as establish the state’s first ever tax on nicotine vaping products. The campaign, Oregonians for a Smoke Free Tomorrow, have raised $12 million for the cause. Opponents of the bill include tobacco companies, which are expected to try and beat out the measure by spending big, like they did in 2007, when they spent $12 million to defeat an Oregon tobacco tax increase.
Senate Joint Referral 18: Another legislative referral, this bill would amend the Oregon Constitution to allow limits on campaign contributions and expenditures and allow statewide requirements for disclosures and restrictions on campaign spending. Currently, Oregon is one of only five other states with unlimited campaign spending.
Supporters of the bill have raised $38,000, with $10,000 from the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. Libertarians have opposed limits on campaign spending passed in Portland and Multnomah County; however, supporters of unlimited spending have generally been unsuccessful at properly funding their campaign in recent years.
Initiative Petition 34: Though not yet certified to appear on the ballot, this bill has seemed to have garnered enough signatures to make its way into the election. The bill would make Oregon the first state to legalize the manufacturing and use of psilocybin at licensed therapeutic clinics. Psilocybin is the psychoactive component in hallucinogenic mushrooms. If this bill were to be passed, the Oregon Healthy Authority would be given two years to set up a licensing program.
This bill’s campaign is currently $70,000 in debt, but considering how much support its gained, this isn’t much of a concern. Backers received $800,000 from a D.C. political action committee called New Approach, who have big donors like van Ameringen Foundation in New York and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap supporting them.
Current opponents of this bill are mainly medical professionals who are concerned that the science of psilocybin research is not established enough to authorize its manufacture and use.
Initiative Petition 44: This bill is also not yet certified but seems to have sufficient signatures. It would reduce the possession of small amounts of narcotics from a misdemeanor to a violation. Oregon would be the first state to do so. The campaign has raised $1.6 million from Drug Policy Action, which is a part of Drug Policy Alliance, a nonprofit seeking to legalize cannabis and end the drug war. However, the bill is currently being opposed by the Oregon Education Association, who have asserted that the measure would transfer cannabis tax revenue from schools to drug treatment programs.
By Cara Nixon
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