governor kate brown Archives

Oregon Governor Signs Bill Altering Marijuana Penalties, Removing Marijuana from Controlled Substances Act

April 22, 2017

Legislation altering Oregon’s marijuana penalties, and removing marijuana from the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, has been signed into law by Governor Kate Brown

Senate Bill 302 was signed into law yesterday by Governor Kate Brown. It was passed by the Senate last month with a 21 to 8 vote, and approved by the House of Representatives 34 to 21 earlier this month. The proposal took effect immediately after being signed by Governor Brown.

The new law reduces the penalty for possessing more than the legal one ounce limit, but less than four times that limit. However, it would increase the penalty for possessing over 16 times the legal limit (anything over a pound. The measure also “repeals additional penalties for the possession, manufacture, or sale of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school”, and “moves criminal penalties and related provisions from the CSA [Controlled Substances Act] to the Control and Regulation of Marijuana Act”.

Four Governors Send Letter to Trump Administration Officials Urging them Respect State Marijuana Laws

April 3, 2017April 3, 2017

Governors from four states have joined forces in sending a letter to Trump Administration officials urging them to support state marijuana laws.

In the letter dated today, Governors Bill Walker (Alaska), John Hickenlooper (Colorado), Kate Brown (Oregon) and Jay Inslee (Washington) begin by asking Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to “engage with us” before embarking on any changes to regulatory and enforcement systems regarding marijuana.

The governors then protect the Cole Memo, stating that overhauling it is “sure to produce unintended and harmful consequences”. They state that “Changes that hurt the regulated market would divert existing marijuana product into the black market and increase dangerous activity in both our states and our neighboring states”.

Cannabis Edibles, Extracts Now Legal for Everyone 21+ in Oregon

June 3, 2016June 3, 2016

As of June 2nd, it’s legal for everyone 21 and older in Oregon to purchase and use cannabis edibles, topicals, tinctures and extracts. Dispensaries are now able to legally distribute such products, thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 1511 earlier this year.

Under the new law, dispensaries are now able to sell cannabis edibles – such as brownies and truffles – topicals – such as lotions and ointments – and tinctures to everyone 21 and older. Unfortunately dispensaries will not be able to sell edibles to non-patients that contain more than 15 mg of THC per product. Dispensaries will also be able to sell up to a gram of cannabis extracts, given they have more than 1,000 mg of THC per gram.

Oregon: Legal Edible Sales for Everyone 21+ Begins Tomorrow

June 1, 2016

Starting tomorrow, June 2nd, dispensaries in Oregon will be able to legally distribute cannabis-infused foods such as brownies and cookies, and cannabis extracts such as oils and tinctures, to anyone 21 and older. This is thanks to Senate Bill 1511, which also allows recreational cannabis retail outlets to sell cannabis to patients tax-free.

Under the new law – signed by Governor Kate Brown in March – dispensaries will be authorized to sell edibles to anyone 21 and older, given they contain no more than 15 mg of THC. Once cannabis retail outlets – licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission – open sometime next year, dispensaries will no longer sale cannabis or cannabis products to non-patients.

Oregon Governor Signs Bill Allowing Sales of Cannabis Edibles and Extracts

March 30, 2016

Oregon Governor Kate Brown yesterday signed Senate Bill 1511 into law. The measure allows dispensaries to sell cannabis-infused edibles such as brownies and cookies and cannabis extracts such as oils and tinctures to anyone 21 and older. The new law also allows recreational cannabis retail outlets to sell cannabis tax-free to registered medical cannabis patients.

Before edibles and extracts will be sold for recreational use, the Oregon Health Authority needs to draft rules for the sale of extracts and edibles; no timeline on when this will be completed was given.

Oregon: Legal Cannabis Sales Begin Tomorrow

September 30, 2015

Legal cannabis sales are set to begin in Oregon tomorrow, October 1st, making it the third state in the nation to allow such sales.

Adults 21 years of age and older will be able to legally purchase up to a quarter-ounce of cannabis and up to four cannabis seedlings from certain medical cannabis dispensaries. This allowance, approved by the legislature in July and signed by Governor Kate Brown the same month, gives adults a legal means of purchasing cannabis while the state develops a regulatory structure that will eventually govern the recreational cannabis market. That system is expected to be implemented sometime next year and will be overseen by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

The 300+ Outlets Allowed to Sell Recreational Cannabis Starting October 1st in Oregon

August 3, 2015August 2, 2015

Oregon Governor Kate Brown recently signed into law a bill that allows medical cannabis dispensaries to sell recreational cannabis to anyone 21 and older beginning October 1st. According to Oregon’s official website, there are currently – as of this publication – 310 medical cannabis dispensaries approved to operate in the state.

Oregon’s website includes a directory of the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries, which can be found by clicking here. Each of these locations will be allowed to sell up to a quarter ounce of recreational cannabis to those 21 and older starting October 1st.

Oregon Governor Signs Bill Allowing Recreational Cannabis Sales to Begin October 1st

July 29, 2015July 28, 2015

As expected, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has signed Senate Bill 460 into law, allowing recreational cannabis sales to begin on October 1st.

The new law allows currently operating medical cannabis dispensaries to begin selling cannabis – including seeds and immature plants – to anyone 21 and older starting October 1st. Cannabis sales won’t be taxed.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, there are over 200 dispensaries operating throughout the state, with dozens more planning to open sometime in the near future. Each of these locations will be authorized to sell recreational cannabis once Senate Bill 460 takes effect.

Oregon Senate Votes to Reject Moratorium on Industrial Hemp Cultivation

July 7, 2015

Oregon’s Senate on Monday voted to opposed a measure that would have placed a two-year moratorium on hemp production in the state.

House Bill 2668 was rejected with a 13 to 17 vote. The proposal would have required the state Department of Agriculture to revoke all 13 of the hemp permits issued this year, with additional permits not granted until 2017. The measure was opposed by all 12 Republicans, who were joined in opposition by 5 Democrats.

Oregon Governor to Sign Bill Allowing Legal Recreational Cannabis Sales to Begin October 1st

July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

Cannabis being sold at Pure Green, one of over 200 dispensaries that will be allowed to sell cannabis to anyone 21 and older under SB 460. — Cannabis being sold at Portland’s Pure Green, one of over 200 dispensaries that will be allowed to sell cannabis to anyone 21 and older under SB 460.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown plans to sign into law legislation allowing recreational cannabis sales to begin October 1st, according to an anonymous source from within the governor’s office.

Senate Bill 460, which was approved by the House of Representatives 40 to 19 and by the Senate 23 to 6, allows currently operating medical cannabis dispensaries to begin selling cannabis to anyone 21 and older starting October 1st. Cannabis sales won’t be taxed, though only a quarter of an ounce can be purchased at a time. In addition to dried flower, dispensaries will be authorized to sell cannabis seeds and immature plants. According to the Oregon Health Authority, there are 222 dispensaries operating throughout the state, with dozens more planning to open sometime in the near future.