http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/columnists/20151120/bailor-wind-whine-and-weed-in-umatilla-county Published: November 20, 2015 2:46PM Last changed: November 24, 2015 10:32AM On Nov. 4, 2014, marijuana was legalized in Oregon. The Oregon Control, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act is the result of a statewide democratic election. The notion being promoted in Umatilla County by elected leaders and other officials and regurgitated by everyday people that "we didn"t vote for it around here,†that "it"s because of the west side†is based in denial of the results of a democratic election and prolific change in American culture. Living in a democracy requires compromise. That is why we vote, and to deny the results of an election, by the people, devalues the significance of democracy and our political process. Umatilla County has about 76,705 residents, with about 57,000 over the age of 18, potentially eligible to vote. There are about 31,684 people actually registered to vote. In that election, 19,576 people voted, 61 percent of registered voters in our county. That number, however, only represents about 34 percent of adults living here. 12,122 (62.8 percent) voted against Measure 91 and 7,181 (37.2 percent) in favor. That"s a 60/40 split, against. In Pendleton there were two districts where it won. If you consider that the medical marijuana community advocated against the initiative and some ballots were discarded without signature, the number in our county is probably closer to 50/50, or likely closer to state percentages of 56 percent in favor and 44 percent against, or 60/40 for. Culturally we need to change the behavior of learning to smoke marijuana and drink during adolescence. Teaching our children about risks in the world, as best we can, is all any parent can ever do. Children are already surrounded by an adult world, and without the simple rule of providing an ID for age verification for a controlled substance that is no more dangerous than alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, pornography, or guns, which do require identification, we are just irresponsibly propagating a vicious adolescent cycle. Right now we have conflicting social rules that encourage experimentation at a young age. This is where, if we can change our habits, we can get the best long-term physical and mental health benefits. It will take time, because the problem is in part due to the underground secretive nature of a counterculture and generational bias fueled by a failed drug war. Marijuana is being sold as medicine, food, and fabric legally, and it"s hard to say exactly how much is sold illegally. In Oregon any household can grow four plants and an individual can possess 1 ounce on their person, away from home. Employers in our state and in our county are changing their policies about cannabis use because they can"t find employees. Wasting energy by fighting the results of democracy is futile. Working to figure out how to transition the results of the election in our community is what leaders do. Under current leadership without legal marijuana, Umatilla County ranks 26 out of 36 counties in Oregon for health and 31 in both health behaviors and quality of life. Numerous shops in our county are selling paraphernalia and we border Washington state. Prohibition of cannabis is a façade and the prohibition mentality demonstrated by elected leadership and staff is a farce. Elected leaders are denying the results of a state election, which is obstructive to both democracy and capitalism. Legal or illegal, marijuana is in our local economy. The big picture of marijuana in U.S. economy is in the skyward trillions of dollars. Even illegal, it"s a top cash crop in the United States. It"s impossible to say and harder yet to draw a line around what the real economic aspect both positive and negative is, especially if you consider beyond smoking and look at results in terms history, art, music, science and technology. It is unknown how many associated jobs, or what innovations in areas of agriculture, textile, fuel and pharmacy will emerge. The Marijuana Prohibition Tax Act of 1937 made it illegal to tax products made from cannabis. It wasn"t passed to keep you from becoming a jazz musician. The act ended the U.S. hemp industry, which was under attack from the paper, pulp, textile, and oil industries. A few years later during WWII Congress had to relent, to help in the effort to win the war because of shortages in oil, fiber, pulp and textiles. The Oregon Control, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act is an effort to move forward in our state. It does not mean all things are perfect but it does change the lenses through which we are now able to look at the issue. There will be changes in both public safety and public health. We will see taxes, new revenue streams, and new opportunities. To vote it out of town just passes the buck, and provides a legal or illegal opportunity for someone else. ■Tom Bailor works as a consultant and is based in Pendleton.