Posted on 07/01/2015 11:28:26 AM PDT by ConservingFreedom
Forty-two years after Oregon became the first state to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, the state is taking its first steps along a road leading to state-licensed stores selling limited amounts of it to anyone over 21.
"Oregon has long been a pioneer on sensible marijuana policies," said Anthony Johnson, chief petitioner on Measure 91, which on Wednesday makes Oregon the fourth state to adopt laws legalizing recreational use of cannabis for people old enough to drink.
He added though that he doesn't expect much increased demand for it.
Smoking it in public is illegal, but in Portland police are discouraging residents from calling 911 to report smokers.
The Portland chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws posted on its website that it would have a tent set up on the west side of the Burnside Bridge for a midnight countdown to the end of marijuana prohibition.
The site offers a big neon sign in the shape of Oregon as a background for selfies of revelers who light up.
Adults will be allowed to possess up to half a pound and grow four plants, but not to buy or sell it yet. It will be a few months to more than a year before it is legal to sell, and then only with a state permit.
The Legislature is considering a bill to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to start selling small amounts to anyone over 21 on Oct. 1, in order to get over the incongruity of marijuana being legal to have and to grow, but not to buy.
The state-regulated retail system is not expected to be fully up and running until late next year. Growers are expected to be able to start applying for licenses in January, with permits for processers, wholesalers and retailers rolling out in succession.
Growers are already gearing up, particularly in southern Oregon, long known as a prime climate for outdoor growing.
Jackson County Building Services Director Kelly Madding said they have received 17 complaints over the past six months of marijuana growers violating land use laws. Trees along a creek were cut down, and a vernal pool, habitat for a protected species of freshwater shrimp, was bulldozed. Four citations have been issued.
"With the legalization of recreational marijuana, I think that we are seeing a move to our area by people who may be from out of state, out of the area, who don't really know or understand our land-use laws and our environmental protections," she said.
Once a month, veteran medical marijuana growers and hopeful newbies gather in the old Grange hall in the community of Williams to hear the latest updates on the Legislature's progress on framing regulations, and tips on how to grow healthy happy marijuana plants.
"It's really a hostile business environment. But things are improving," said Cedar Grey, the growers guild president and a local homebuilder who along with his wife grow medical marijuana and hope to move into growing for retail.
“Recreational” use of marijuana? What a silly term. Is there “recreational” use of alcohol?
I’ve heard that now that homosexual marriage is a done deal nationwide, that the next big social issue will be legalization of drugs . We are going to see this go state by state.
That would sound like an almost nothing move in comparison.
In fact it would be a return to early 20th century policy.
That’s right. Before big pharma and tobacco took hold.. Things was a lot looser.. Things did go better with Coke. :-)
You're kidding, right?
Yes - I've done it myself in my day.
recreation
[rek-ree-ey-shuh n]
noun
1. refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
2. a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.
Which is where the decision belongs, under our Constitutional system of federalism.
Half kidding. There is no reason to use the term "recreational" for either.
How many people do you know who “experimented” with alcohol?
the Eastern Oregon Republic
Not sure what you’re getting at. If you think that marijuana use is limited to Portland and Eugene, you’ve got another thing coming.
"Experimented with" is another term I wouldn't mind seeing go away.
I find it interesting that the strongest "states' rights" cases are being put forth by the pot-heads.
What do you conclude from that? Does it discredit the idea of states' rights?
Right. So medicinal marijuana and marijuana use. No need for the "recreational" adjective. It's not like people use marijuana "professionally" or "vocationally".
Yes, the moonbat crazy state that thinks Obama and transgender girl scouts are good ideas, thinks Marijuana ought to be more easily available.
I fully encourage these nutbags to drug themselves up even more. It will make it easier to pick up the pieces after their corner of loonyville collapses, and some adults get put in charge.
And why stop there? I fully support heroin, crack, meth, and "conserving freedom's" fecal expulsions being legalized for usage by that community.
Not even the Grateful Dead? ;-D
Point taken.
With legal polygamy, blood donations by disease ridden homosexuals, and child molesting not far behind.
Again, some people think it's a coincidence that we are being subjected to parallel insanities on multiple fronts.
No, it's just different manifestations of the same source of evil that always attacks humanity.
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