You’re planning a trip to Oregon where cannabis is legal (yay!), and you’re ready to go shop at the first cannabis dispensary you see. But what exactly are the laws surrounding cannabis in Oregon? Don’t stress; we have you covered.
A Short History of Oregon’s Marijuana Laws
In 1998, voters passed Measure 67, also known as the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, making Oregon one of the first states to implement a medical cannabis program. Thanks to Measure 67, people with certain qualifying medical diagnoses could purchase or grow marijuana as part of their symptom management.
From 1998 to 2014, Oregon voters passed a range of laws that continued to regulate and expand the medical marijuana industry. Then, in 2014, Measure 91 was passed. Also known as the Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act, this law made the sale, purchase and use of recreational marijuana legal in Oregon.
Since then, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) has monitored the rules and regulations that dispensaries must follow to legally sell marijuana.
What Can a Recreational User Legally Purchase?
Anyone over the age of 21 can legally purchase recreational marijuana. To do so, you’ll need to bring your driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID to the dispensary you’re visiting. It’s important to remember that out-of-state medical marijuana cards can’t be used in Oregon.
Once you’re at the dispensary with legal ID in hand, you can buy the following amounts of cannabis products:
- Two ounces of usable marijuana
- Five grams of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates
- 16 ounces of a cannabinoid product in solid form
- 72 fluid ounces of a cannabinoid product in liquid form
- 10 marijuana seeds
- Four immature marijuana plants
Don’t worry if you’re cannabis-curious and new to buying products at a dispensary. The budtenders behind the counter are more than happy to help you pick the perfect product for you. Ask all the questions you want about the different types, uses and purposes of cannabis — they’ll have the right answer.
Once you’ve got your cannabis in hand, you can legally use your products on private property. Recreational marijuana can’t be used in a public place, such as a park, bar or restaurant. It’s also illegal to drive under the influence or use marijuana in a car, regardless if you’re the driver or a passenger.
It’s also really important to follow possession limits while you’re visiting. As a recreational user, you’re limited to carrying the following amounts in public:
- One ounce usable marijuana (dried leaves and flowers)
- One ounce cannabinoid extracts or concentrates (must be purchased from a licensed marijuana retailer)
- 16 ounces cannabinoid product in solid form
- 72 ounces cannabinoid product in liquid form
- 10 marijuana seeds
- Four immature marijuana plants
If you’re visiting our great state, also remember that you can’t take any cannabis products over state lines, even if you’re going somewhere that has legal recreational marijuana laws. Also, be sure to double-check the rules at the hotel or house rental where you’re staying; the owners can legally dictate what is and isn’t allowed on the property, including cannabis.
Cannabis Product Basics
The shelves of a dispensary are full of different kinds of cannabis-infused products. Depending on what you’re looking for, you might be interested in:
Flower. Also known as bud, flower is the smokable part of the cannabis plant. It’s perfect for use in joints, bongs or glass pipes.
Edibles. Edibles are food and beverages that have been infused with cannabinoids. They come in a wide variety of products, including baked goods, teas, chocolate and gummies.
Tinctures. Tinctures are herbal solutions that are created when cannabis is steeped in alcohol, oil or glycerin.
Vapes. Vapes, also known as weed pens, distill cannabis oil into a vapor that is then inhaled. Cartridges of different strains can be bought for use in a weed pen.
Topicals. Available as lotions, balms, sprays or patches, topicals are used to provide localized effects without the psychoactive high that comes from inhaling cannabis.
Wax. Wax concentrates are intensely concentrated resins that can be smoked with a vape pen or a special pipe called a dab rig.
Oregon Regulations Resources
Since the laws and regulations surrounding recreational marijuana are different from state to state, it can be confusing to keep them all straight. Fortunately, Oregon has a lot of great resources for you so you can feel confident in your cannabis purchases.
From hikes in the forest to coastal picnics, and golf resorts to downtown shopping, there’s a lot of fun ways to spend your time in Oregon. And now, you can add exploring the interesting and downright special cannabis products our wonderful state has to offer to your list!