Washington Sheriff Endorses Marijuana Regulation Measure

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Joanna Evoniuk, GoLocalPDX Contributor

The Sheriff of King County, Washington, has endorsed the Oregon marijuana regulation measure, the second Sheriff to do so. Sheriff John Urquhart says he is behind Measure 91 due to the success Washington has had with marijuana regulation.

"Month by month, tax dollars are going to schools and police, not the drug cartels," Urquhart says in a new ad from Oregon's Yes on 91 campaign that will air on Wednesday. "Wasteful arrests are way down. DUIs are down. Drug prevention programs are getting funds. Strict regulations are working."

Urquhart has worked for 36 years in law enforcement as a patrol officer, field training officer, master police officer, narcotics detective, public information officer and administrative aide. He became sheriff of King County in 2012, which has 1.9 million people and includes Seattle.

The other sheriff to endorse Measure 91 was Donald Clark, former Sheriff of Multnomah County, on September 21. Other law enforcement officials who have voiced support for the measure include Attorney Kris Olson, a well known prosecutor in Oregon, and former Oregon Supreme Court Justice Bill Riggs.