Rapid Response: How will legal marijuana change Oregon?

As of July 1, marijuana will be legal for recreational use by adults in Oregon.

Now that we’re close to that eventful day, we asked our Rapid Responders to give their crystal-ball look at Oregon’s future: Will this be good or bad for Oregon?

For example, will this create more problems for law enforcement, or will police be freed up to focus on higher-priority issues? Will substance-abuse addictions increase, or possibly decrease because of how people treat marijuana?

What they said

With commercialization of this product, the illegal trade will no longer generate immense profits, so law enforcement will be able to refocus on higher priority issues.

Will abuse still occur? Yes, but no more than alcohol, tobacco, or other also legal stimulants.

— Ken Simila, Salem

Good for government coffers, bad for Oregon’s youth. Too broad. Next we’ll have whiskey Pepsi, beer milkshakes and nicotine doughnuts.

— Wally Gutzler,...

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URL: 
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/06/20/rapid-response-will-legal-marijuana-change-oregon/29019545/