Measure 91: Yes or No

Stop the war on drugs! Repeal prohibition, break the grip of cartels and gangs, and manage through regulation.

On Oct. 21, LBCC hosted a forum with guest speaker, LEAP volunteer, Inge Fryklund. LEAP stands for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Fryklund brought her knowledge on Measure 91. If approved on the Nov. 4 election day recreational marijuana would be legalized for people ages 21 and older.

Legalizing marijuana would eliminate the unnecessary convictions and free up the jails and prisons for more severe cases and criminals. There are at least 12,000 arrests and citations for marijuana each year across Oregon counties. While preventing the illegal use of marijuana is a necessity, so is preventing crimes in neighborhoods. Freeing up police officers to serve and protect neighborhoods would reduce car thefts and robbery.

After a conviction it remains on your name. A drug conviction makes it difficult for people to gain employment. Not being able to gain employment only hinders the person searching for work. Employers want an employee whose background checks out and shows that the potential person is responsible. Having a misdemeanor can even affect your possibility of finding work.

"Treat addiction, never get over a conviction," said Fryklund.

“Today in Oregon, kids are buying readily available marijuana from unknown, unregulated sources,” said Fryklund. She wrote this in an article from The Bulletin. This is becoming an increasingly popular with newer generations of teens. Marijuana has become so easily accessible that parents can’t control what their children are doing these days. Not knowing what ingredients are in a substance can cause major effects. Some may even lose their own lives.

The purpose of LEAP to better inform the community. It is also to allow regulation on the things we put into our bodies on a daily basis. Without regulation who knows what the future will hold for a youth.

“Measure 91 establishes regulatory framework. Vote Yes on 91,” said Fryklund.

There are several ways to become involved with LEAP. You can sign on to LEAP’s email list, like them on Facebook, follow on Twitter, check them out on YouTube, become a supporting member, or simply volunteer.