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Does Medical Marijuana Create Revenue for Oregon?
During today's show on medical marijuana, Anthony Johnson said the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program has added over $1 million to Oregon's general fund. After the show we asked Christine Stone, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, which manages the program, whether his numbers were right. Turns out they are.
Stone said the program is financed by licensing fees, and when the program takes in more than it spends, legislators can allocate the extra money to the state's general fund. In the 2003-2005 budget, the Medical Marijuana Program added $902,139 to the general fund. In the 2007-2009 budget, it added $168,286. (No money was pulled out in the two years in between.)
In addition to financing many other projects and programs, money from the general fund pays for the police officers who enforce marijuana laws in Oregon.
