Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jan 2013
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2013 The Register-Guard
Contact: http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/#contribute-a-letter
Website: http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Jim Greig

MARIJUANA REVENUE COULD AID SHERIFF

I was alarmed when I read that because of continued drops in funding,
the Lane County sheriff will be reducing bed usage at the jail again.
I have a suggestion, and it's one many Oregonians have been advocating
for years.

Let's legalize marijuana.

When we do - the only real question remaining these days is when - we
should use the revenue to fund sheriff's services, including the jail.

California's Mendocino County instituted a zip-tie program for medical
marijuana growers. The growers purchase a zip tie from the county
sheriff for each plant in their garden and the sheriff inspects the
gardens. With only one-fourth the population of Lane County, Mendocino
County raised more than $600,000.

I can't think of a better way to bridge the public funding gap the
Lane County Sheriff's Office now faces. While a marijuana zip-tie
program may not completely fill the expected $10 million hole over the
next two years in the sheriff's budget, it would help us back away
from the funding crisis we all face now.

Marijuana consumers aren't criminals, only violators of a really bad
federal prohibition. We appreciate the crime-fighting services our
sheriff's deputies provide, we just don't want them wasting resources
chasing us for gardening.

Jim Greig, member

Board of Directors

Voter Power Foundation

Green Leaf
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MAP posted-by: Matt