Carla Axtman: Anti-Marijuana Event Organization ‘Reeks of Impropriety’

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

Carla Axtman, GoLocalPDX MINDSETTER™

Photo Credit: Carlos Gracia via Compfight cc

I have absolutely no doubt that Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis is good at his job. He first took office in 1994 and has clearly done enough right to keep his constituents happy. Or at least happy enough that they’ll keep reelecting him.

He’s also extremely good at getting media attention, which might explain why he’s emerged as one of the main spokespeople against Measure 91, the effort to legalize recreational marijuana in Oregon.

But Marquis is part of a series of events now under scrutiny for possible improper use of federal funds. The so-called “marijuana education” events include federal taxpayer dollars and reportedly have a distinctly anti-M91 bent. Speakers include Kevin Sabet, whose dubious claims about marijuana border on the hysterical.

The nonprofit “BestCare Treatment Services” is reportedly also using federal funds for anti-pot ads they call “public service ads." BestCare is involved with the events as well.

Chief spokesman against Measure 91

Marquis is slated to speak at these events as the chief spokesman against the measure, presumably while also in his paid district attorney role. The events are meant to happen about a month before the election, prime time to influence unwitting taxpayers who are footing the bill for this propaganda parade.

Fortunately for those of us who actually write tax checks to the IRS, Congressman Earl Blumenauer has stepped in, calling for an investigation into the matter. Blumenauer’s letter to White House Drug Czar Michael Botticelli notes that some county employees who are organizing the events are being paid with federal “pass through” dollars, which can’t be used for political activity.

I don’t know about you, but I’d like my tax dollars to go for things like schools, roads, bridges and public safety. And no, legalizing marijuana doesn’t qualify as a public safety problem.

The idea that already scarce federal dollars are going to fund this effort to push for more wasteful spending on the war on drugs is beyond absurd.

Political thuggery

Marquis, for his part, calls Blumenauer’s efforts “political thuggery." Given Marquis’ penchant for drama and hyperbole, it’s tough to take him seriously. Especially since political thuggery is often Marquis’ own stock in trade. His virulent support of Measure 11 - which established mandatory minimum sentences for certain, serious crimes - despite its questionable impact and massive costs, have made it politically impossible to even scale back the law, much less get rid of it.

Marquis’ ongoing fealty to the death penalty is no better, and includes its own hyperbolic rhetoric, as well as at least one half truth.

That sounds a lot more like “thuggery” to me.

Marquis has managed wins with Measure 11 and with the death penalty (although Gov. John Kitzhaber has placed a moratorium on the death penalty for the length of his tenure). It’s entirely possible that Marquis will snatch victory on this one as well. These taxpayer funded events could certainly tip the scales if they’re allowed to go forward.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument that none of this activity from the anti-Measure 91 organizers is illegal. It still reeks of impropriety. It’s one thing entirely to stand up on one’s own time and do political work. That’s free speech. It’s quite another to use precious taxpayer resources to do it.

If this isn’t illegal, it ought to be.

Carla Axtman