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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Oregon Legislature. This is a venue for political and policy coverage of the state government in Salem and its impact on the people of Oregon.

Oregon Governor Still Wary Of Marijuana Legalization

Katherine Hitt
/
Flickr

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber said he's concerned about how the state will implement the voter-approved marijuana legalization initiative.

Measure 91 will allow adults in Oregon to grow, possess, and sell marijuana under state regulation. It passed with a wide margin on Tuesday.

Kitzhaber spoke out against the measure before the election. Now that it's passed he said the state needs to tackle some issues left unanswered by the measure.

"For example, how do you test somebody who's driving under the influence of marijuana? It's not a simple breathalyzer test. It's a blood test at this point. And there's a cost with doing that,” the governor said.

Kitzhaber said Oregon should look to Washington and Colorado as it begins to create an oversight structure for legal pot.

Recreational marijuana remains illegal to possess in Oregon until next July.