Oregon to begin selling Recreational Marijuana in October 2015

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on July 29, 2015.

People in Oregon will be able to purchase recreational marijuana much earlier than anticipated. As Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed a law on Tuesday allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in existing medical marijuana dispensaries, people will get pot from October 1, 2015. It's a big development, as the law legalizing recreational marijuana in Oregon took effect only on July 1.

Oregon had approved marijuana legalization during the 2014 Election. The possession, consumption, and cultivation provisions recreational pot became effective on July 1, 2015. And, now, people would be able to purchase it from October 1. The system has worked faster than expected in the state, which had given a huge mandate to legalize recreational marijuana.

Kristen Grainger, Kate Brown's spokeswoman, termed the development as a "smart solution to a short-term logistical problem. "Oregon’s new recreational marijuana law went into effect in July 2015, but Oregonians couldn’t lawfully buy it anywhere for another year or more. If marijuana is legal to use, it shouldn’t be illegal to buy", she said while talking to a media house.

The bill allows adults 21 years of age and above to purchase up to 7 grams of dried flower marijuana, as well as up to four seeds or non-flowering cannabis plants. However, it is prohibited to purchase Marijuana topicals, edibles etc. Sales of those items will be permitted only after the recreational marijuana stores open in 2016.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission will establish a regulatory framework and issue licenses to retailers at a later stage. It can noted that only Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, Washington and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana in the U.S. till date.

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