PORTLAND, Ore. -- A group is collecting signatures to get an initiative put on the ballot in 2010 that would allow the state of Oregon to sell marijuana in stores like they do cigarettes.

Monday, the group, called Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, started getting signatures for the Cannabis Tax Act.

The campaign needs 82,769 valid signatures to get the proposal on the November 2010 ballot. Their deadline for the signatures is July 2010.

The group said a tax on those stores could put millions of dollars into the state's general fund.

In the group's plan, part of the money would also go into drug treatment programs.

One supporter asked about the proposal said it makes more sense for the state to take in money through regulation than to spend money on prosecution.

"I think it's a bit of a waste of time spending that much money on prosecuting people that are basically not hurting anybody else besides themselves," supporter Alan Tinsley said.

But not everyone was in support of the proposal.

"Society is already going away from, you know, doing what's right and laws. Why make one more thing OK when it's hurting others?" critic Shelby Ulrich said.

The proposal would allow people age 21 and older to buy marijuana at the stores with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission managing the program.

The stores would get the marijuana from people licensed by the OLCC.

Some of those licensed pot growers would also supply medical marijuana for cardholders.

In addition to marijuana, the plan would allow people to grow hemp.

Supporters said the proposal could generate up to $300 million per year.

They said they think the state would also get an additional $50 million annually in increased tourism.

Group Trying To Legalize, Tax Pot In Oregon