Full of a sense of history and beauty, Oregon is one of those places people can't seem to resist.
With recreational, adult-use marijuana sales and use legal in the Beaver State since 2015, the allure may be a tad stronger for some.
But of course, there are some things you should know before toking up for the first time. And yes, it means you'll have to do a little more than binge-watch “Portlandia.”
Where and How to Buy
Adults 21 and older can buy recreational marijuana from licensed retailers. Weedmaps offers a user-friendly search tool to find local cannabis retailers. Alternatively, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) has a list of active approved marijuana retailers.
Bring a government-issued identification and cash, since most retailers can't deal with banks because of marijuana's federal status as a Schedule I drug.
How to Consume
Adults 21 and older can smoke, eat, or consume marijuana flower, concentrates, edibles, and drinks inside private property. Oregon residents can legally grow up to four plants on their property.
What Isn't Allowed
Even though adults 21 and older can use and buy recreational marijuana in Oregon, public consumption in any form is a no-no. "Public" is defined to include apartment common areas, streets, parks, and bus and train stops. Plus, its use isn't allowed at establishments with liquor licenses, such as bars and restaurants. In other words, use it on private property, like inside your home. However, if you have a landlord, he or she can prohibit its use.
And for those of you who consider your car your palace, using marijuana in a parked car where the public can see you is prohibited. It is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, and passengers in the car aren't allowed to use it, either. Remember, taking marijuana across state lines is illegal, but Portland International Airport (PDX) does allow passengers flying within the state to board with the legal public possession amount of 1 ounce, or 28.35 grams. Smoking it on the plane, however, is forbidden.
There are also both public and private possession limits for legal, recreational, adult use. In public, legal users can have:
- 1 ounce, or 28.35 grams, of usable marijuana in the form of dried leaves and 5 grams of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates bought from a licensed marijuana retailer
- 16 ounces, or 454 grams, of cannabinoid product in solid form
- 72 fluid ounces, or 2.13 liters, of cannabinoid product in liquid form; or
- 10 marijuana seeds and four immature marijuana plants.
On private property, legal recreational users can have:
- 8 ounces, or 227 grams, of dried marijuana leaves and flowers
- 1 ounce, or 28.35 grams, of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates bought from a licensed marijuana retailer
- 16 ounces, or 454 grams, of cannabinoid product in solid form
- 72 fluid ounces, or 2.13 liters, of cannabinoid product in liquid form, or
- 10 marijuana seeds and four marijuana plants.
First-Time Use in Oregon
Oregon relatively generous possession limits, especially on private property, may tempt the novice user to head to the marijuana retailer as if buying at a bulk warehouse. But as the marijuana mantra goes: Stick with low and slow.
Take your time perusing the selection at the retailer. Ask a lot of questions and make selections based on a few goals, like “I want to unwind and de-stress.” See how it goes. When you return, you'll refine the process.
Cannabis Legalization in Oregon
Oregonians passed the Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act, or Measure 91, in November 2014 with 56 percent of the vote, legalizing recreational cannabis use and regulating its sales. The OLCC oversees licensing and regulation of adult-use marijuana. Recreational use officially became legal on July 1, 2015.
Previously, medical marijuana had been legal in the state for many years. Oregon voters approved the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, or Measure 67, in 1998. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) oversees medical marijuana licensing and regulation.
