With recreational marijuana due to be officially legalized in Oregon in less than three months (July 1), state Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day) is crafting legislation to temporarily sanction medicinal cannabis dispensaries to sell “party pot.” The law would allow current medi-ganja cultivators to apply for a license to vend an extra allotment of weed to dispensaries for recreational sales that would be taxed according to Measure 91, approved by Oregon voters last November. After the retail regulatory system is established, dispensaries would resume exclusively selling medicine.
Senator Ferrioli announced: “Our obligation is to do everything we can to prevent the proliferation of medical marijuana into an illicit market, to take profit away from bootleggers and cartels, and stop illegal sales in Oregon.”
Senator Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) – co-chair of the committee to implement Measure 91 – told KATU the stopgap solution is necessary because the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which will regulate legal marijuana, previously confirmed the cultivation and retail system will not be initiated until 2016.
Measure 91 Chief Petitioner and co-author Anthony Johnson issued his approval: “…it seems to me this is an idea that can really work if the state looks into it and develops a good plan.”
