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Thursday, July 17, 2014

How Oregon Embraced Medical Cannabis Legalization

At the moment, medical marijuana is legal in a total of 22 U.S. states and Washington, DC. However, Oregon still holds the distinction of being the first state that decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis. In 1998, the state passed Measure 67 that allowed patients to possess, cultivate, and use medical marijuana, and since then, the industry has flourished.

However, Senate Bill 1531 being signed into law on March 19, 2014 is certainly a game changer. SB 1531 allows local governments to impose certain regulations and restrictions on medical marijuana dispensaries. To ensure that these operating businesses are compliant to said directives, state regulators make unannounced visits to the establishments. This way, a thorough inspection and evaluation can be made.

Recently, one medical cannabis dispensary in Portland was discovered to have committed violations like having unlocked doors or allowing the use of the substance within the premises itself, and was thus ordered closed. However, there is no final word yet on whether the dispensary’s license to operate will be revoked.


As such, those planning to operate medical cannabis dispensaries here are recommended to rely on consulting services to ensure that their establishments comply with local laws. Consulting firms will guide these future owners and operators in properly controlling inventory and accurately documenting transactions. Compliance to regulations and restrictions is key to their success.

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