Will Oregon Legalize Weed In 2014? Jeff Merkley Says Yes To Legalizing Marijuana

Sen. Jeff Merkley plans to vote for marijuana legalization on Election Day in Oregon, Talking Points Memo wrote Thursday. If he does, he would be the first U.S. senator to back legalizing cannabis.

"I lean in support of it," the Democratic senator told TPM regarding Measure 91, which would make it legal for citizens to recreationally use pot through regulations and taxes. Washington state and Colorado passed similar measures in 2012.

"I think folks on both sides of the argument make a good case," Merkley said. "And there is concern about a series of new products -- and we don't have a real track record from Colorado and Washington. But I feel on balance that we spend a lot of money on our criminal justice system in the wrong places and I lean in favor of this ballot measure."

The senator did says exactly he thinks weed should be legal, and he mentioned that it hasn't been an issue in his re-election bid. TMP noted that he's in good standing to win, according to recent polls.

Oregon voters can decide on Measure 21 at the polls on Nov. 4.

While many citizens in Washington and Colorado might be happy that pot is legal, some parents are worried that their little ghouls might get more of a trick than they bargained for on Halloween. Since some marijuana-laced candies resemble mainstream sweets, there’s the possibility that drug-infused candy could wind up in kids' candy bags. Parents and children are urged to discard candy that doesn't come from a name-brand manufacturer or that looks as if it might have been tampered with.

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