If approved, the measure would allow marijuana to be sold at state liquor stores to those 21 and older. The measure also would regulate how farmers could grow marijuana and how retail sales would be taxed. The unidentified former software programmer from Seattle has promised to bankroll the effort as much as necessary to collect the needed signatures, said D. Paul Stanford, executive director of the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp, which is sponsoring the initiative. Volunteers hope to jump-start that work by gathering 20,000 signatures this Sunday at the Seattle Hempfest '99 in Myrtle Edwards Park, said Stanford of Portland. If the group succeeds in its petition drive, the measure would go before the Legislature next year.
Lawmakers can approve it or ignore it.
If they ignore it, it would be put before voters in the November 2000 general election. The Legislature also has the option of submitting its own plan as an alternative ballot question. I don't think our people think it's OK to walk into a liquor store and buy marijuana. . . . I think we have enough problems with drugs as it is. Last November, voters approved a more limited proposal to allow the medical use of marijuana for certain terminal or debilitating conditions.