DUI, Medical Marijuana Laws Qualify for November Vote

Oregon voters will potentially be making some law changes this fall. As the Statesman Journal reports, several initiatives have qualified for the ballot, leaving voters in charge of some critical changes to DUI law and medical marijuana issues. Over 80,000 signatures were received by the Secretary of State Kate Brown, qualifying these issues for the ballot. [read more...]

Oregon Meth Crimes Down But Supply Up?

An editorial in the Oregonian this week sums up a conundrum around the country. Despite crimes relating to meth being down overall, a national report not yet released seems to state that the supply of the drug is actually increasing due to new Mexican manufacturing. [read more...]

Portland Bank Fraud Case Suspect Sentenced

A California man was sentenced this week in Federal court for crimes that required a lot of planning and financing but unfortunately for him, little payout. According to the Seattle Sun-Times, the 61 year old defendant was sentenced to 4 years in prison and 4 on supervised release. [read more...]

Pro-Pot Petition Circulating Oregon

California isn’t the only state hoping to legalize marijuana use this year. Although there is a long way to go before the measure can be voted on, marijuana legalization supporters are working to get an initiative on the ballot in Oregon this November as well. [read more...]

Oregon Supreme Court Rules Employers Can Fire Medical Marijuana Users

Although state law in Oregon now allows for the use of marijuana, when approved by a physician, in many medical conditions, the state’s high court ruled last week that employers do not have to cater to those people with medical marijuana authorization if their use violates a workplace policy.

The ruling overturns a decision by the Bureau of Labor and Industries and a following affirmation by the Oregon Court of Appeals. What affect this has on employees and states across the country remains to be seen. [read more...]

Oregon’s Anti-Crime Surveillance Cameras

According to a report in The Oregonian this past week, TriMet, the state’s largest transit agency will be using $1.9 million in federal dollars to increase the number of cameras in their light-rail stations. According to the report, nearly every step people take now at 74 out of 84 platforms will be seen by these eyes in the sky. [read more...]

Oregon’s Sudafed/Meth-Prevention Laws Get National Attention

In 2005, Oregon became the first state in the country to require a doctor’s prescription for allergy and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine. At the time it was seen as an extreme measure. Now, states are admitting the law has worked but are feeling the push from pharmaceutical giants to keep the cold medicines non-prescription. [read more...]

Oregon Newlyweds Victims of Theft, Suspect Hiding

A couple, recently married and traveling through Oregon, was victimized as they stopped to enjoy the view. According to Fox 12, the couple was married in Portland on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day they stopped at the Carver Boat Ramp in Clackamas to stretch their legs and take in the sights. [read more...]

Bus Assaults Stretch From Oregon to Houston

A 22 year old man has been charged with some extremely unusual cases in Oregon and may be connected to additional crimes of the same odd nature in Texas. The cases involve involuntary haircuts and gluing that have occurred everywhere from the city buses to the movie theater. [read more...]

Oregon Supreme Court Hearing Case of DUI Blood Tests

Do the police have a right to draw blood from a person they suspect of DUI? Or does that person have a right to refuse that kind of search without fear of legal ramifications? These are the kind of questions that were asked earlier this week by attorneys in front of the state’s Supreme Court. [read more...]