Vote For Ellen Rosenblum For Oregon Attorney General 2012
The 2012 Oregon Attorney General election is the most important race on the entire ballot. In the 2008 election, I actually submitted a question that was asked to then Oregon AG candidates John Kroger and Greg Macpherson on a public radio show. It was an odd race because they were both Democrats; the Oregon GOP didn’t field a single candidate (Oregon is considered liberal I hear, from those of you that call it ‘Oregone). My question was ‘as an Oregon medical marijuana patient, I want to know how both candidates would handle federal intervention. Would they let the federal government treat us like a police state, or would they respect the will of the Oregon voters and stand up to the feds.’
The answers were quite different. Greg Macpherson answered first and basically said that he admittedly didn’t know much about the OMMP, and pointed out that the federal government has the right to step in and override Oregon. John Kroger then said that the OMMP was approved by voters, and clearly Oregon wants it to be protected, and he would step up. Needless to say, Mr. Kroger received my vote in 2008.
Everything was good in Oregon until about a year ago. The Obama administration pulled what now is the biggest scam in medical marijuana history, by first declaring that the US DOJ would not prosecute people that are in compliance with State law, then doing the exact opposite and going on a western state crusade raiding people like crazy. Based upon a conversation I had with Oregon dispensary owners, the raids are going to continue. Where has the Oregon Attorney General been in all of this mayhem? Where was he when a co-op in Southern Oregon was raided? Other Oregon politicians have gone to MMJ farms in Southern Oregon to tell the feds to back off, why hasn’t he? Or at least send someone from his office, or a letter, or at the very least a damn tweet!
I recently sent an e-mail to both Oregon AG candidates – Ellen Rosenblum and Dwight Holton. I told them, ‘2012 Oregon Attorney General Candidates, beware the Oregon muckracker. In 2008 I didn’t have this blog to get the questions on record. Now I do, and believe I will be asking many of them!’ Dwight Holton has yet to respond, and when I called his campaign, they refused to answer any of my questions. Expect another article shortly explaining how I feel about Mr. Holton. But for now, I would like to OFFICIALLY endorse Ellen Rosenblum more Oregon Attorney General in 2012. Not only was she kind enough to answer the questions below (?’s in bold, answers below in plain font), but she had some answers that show why she is the CLEAR choice for Oregon Attorney General in 2012:
Q: If marijuana is confiscated from a medical marijuana patient, and it is determined that the patient committed no crimes, would you instruct law enforcement to return the medical marijuana that was seized?
Yes. The law on the books in Oregon currently requires the return of seized marijuana under certain limited circumstances. As Attorney General, if those circumstances exist, I would advise law enforcement agencies to return marijuana to card-holding patients.
Q: Last year many medical marijuana gardens were raided, and many threatening letters were sent to medical marijuana businesses. Should we expect similar actions if you are elected, or will you take a different approach?
I will take a different approach. I strongly support the right of patients to obtain the medicine they need to help them cope with their medical conditions. The voters of Oregon enacted the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA), and I support their decision. Additionally, I do not see the enforcement of laws against marijuana an effective use of our limited public resources. The priorities of the next Attorney General should be protecting children, families, and the elderly from abuse and fighting for consumers by taking on criminals, scammers, and corporations that break the law — not marijuana enforcement.
Q: Oregon will likely join Colorado and Washington with a marijuana legalization initiative on the ballot in the 2012 election. What are your thoughts on this type of initiative?
Marijuana should be the lowest priority of law enforcement. My position would of course depend on the language of the initiative, but I support directing our scarce public safety resources towards other purposes.
Q: If Oregon voters approved marijuana legalization at the ballot box, would you respect the will of the voters, or would you uphold the will of the federal government?
As Attorney General, I will defend the laws of Oregon adopted by the voters or the Legislature.
Go to NotDwightHolton.Com to find out why you should not vote for Dwight Holton for Oregon Attorney General, and ‘like’ the Not Dwight Holton Facebook Page!
