SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Medical marijuana advocates have turned in an initial batch of signatures in hopes of placing an initiative measure on Oregon’s November ballot to expand the program.
The initiative would create a system in which state-licensed pot growers would distribute their crops to dispensaries regulated by the state health department.
Medical marijuana patients could buy their drugs from the dispensaries, instead of having to find a personal grower or figure out how to grow pot themselves.
John Sajo, who’s head of the group that helped pass Oregon’s 1998 medical marijuana law, says backers of the new initiative on Monday turned in 61,000 petition signatures. Advocates have until July to round up the rest of the signatures they need.
Backers need 82,769 valid signatures to qualify the measure.
