Oregon Cannabis Act Initiative Signature-Gathering Begins

[Paracelsus]

http://www.koin.com/content/news/top...4-162cae92015a

PORTLAND - Could hemp become Oregon’s largest cash crop? Supporters of the Oregon Cannabis Act of 2010 (OCTA) hope so.

Monday kicked off the signature campaign to get the initiative on the ballot in November 2010. The initiative would allow growth of industrial hemp to be used for clothing, food, fuel and even plastics.

It would also allow retail sale of marijuana to those 21 and older.

Supporters say hemp is in great demand but can’t be grown under current law. They estimate revenue generated by state-controlled Cannabis sales could easily reach $300 million annually.

Oregon Liquor Control Commission would monitor sales.

The group needs close to 83,000 signatures by July of 2010 to get the initiative on the ballot and let voters decide.

A similar initiative was introduced twice in the 1990s but failed to get the signatures to make it on the ballot.