Marijuana Politics is proud to help organize the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference (OMBC) and the turnout and feedback only encourage us to help educate the Oregon cannabis industry and community and provide a networking opportunity to help any marijuana business entrepreneur. More than 700 people packed into the Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites to hear from policy experts, established entrepreneurs, activists, legislators and attorneys who covered a variety of topics regarding marijuana business and licensing. We are energized by the conference to not only continue future work in Oregon, but also for the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in San Francisco on February 13th and 14th.

Both local ABC and NBC affiliates were there to cover the conference. From KDRV.com (ABC):

Organizers say this event is much more than learning the guide lines in potentially murky waters, it’s also a chance to group together as a political force.

Conference rooms were filled with guest speakers, answering question form eager listeners, hoping to better understand the businesses.

This is the second year for the conference, which hopes they will be able to ease the state of Oregon into the limelight for pot grows around the nation.

The OMBC program covered licensing regulations for marijuana businesses such as growers, processors and retailers, as well as keeping a focus on activism. Protecting the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP), particularly patients’ safe access to medicine and keeping people out of prison for marijuana are always the foundation of the OMBC. Conference organizers led the effort to successfully convince the Medford City Council to vote against a ban on all personal cannabis gardens, including medical. Passionate speakers and an enthusiastic crowd voiced much support for continuing to organize to ensure that both the OLCC and OMMP laws and regulations work for all Oregonians.

The Oregon Marijuana Business Conference (OMBC) throws a ton of essential information out to attendees. These links and notes will help you navigate the ins and outs of licensing your cannabis business under state law. This page will be updated as more information comes to light. If you have any questions or think anything pertinent is missing, please contact: writers@marijuanapolitics.com

Important Links:

Oregon Medical Marijuana Program Page

Oregon Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program Page

OLCC Recreational Marijuana Main Page

OLCC Business Readiness Guide

OLCC Licensing Workshops

Cities and Counties with Marijuana Bans or Upcoming Public Votes on Bans

OLCC Rules

General OLCC Fees:

(1) At the time of initial license or certificate application an applicant must pay a $250 nonrefundable application fee.

(2) If the commission approves an application and grants an annual license, the following fees must be paid, prorated for an initial license that is issued for six months or less:

(a) Producers:

(A) Tier I $3750

(B) Tier II $5750

(b) Processors: $4750

(c) Wholesalers: $4750

(d) Retailers: $4750

(e) Laboratories: $4750

(3) At the time of license or certificate application renewal an applicant must pay a $250 nonrefundable application fee. If the commission approves an application and grants a research certificate, the fee shall be $4750 for a three year term.

(4) If the commission approves a renewal application the renewal license or certificate fees must be paid in the amounts specified in subsection (2) of this rule.

(5) If the commission approves an initial or renewal application and grants a marijuana handler permit the individual must pay a $100 permit fee.

(6) The Commission shall charge the following fees:

(a) Criminal background checks: $50 per individual (if the background check is not part of an initial or renewal application)

(b) Change of ownership review: $1000 per license

(c) Change in business structure review: $1000 per license

(d) Transfer of location of premises review: $1000 per license

(e) Packaging preapproval: $100

(f) Labeling preapproval: $100

Proof of residency:

(C) Proof of residency documented by providing:

(i) Oregon full-year resident tax returns for the last two years; or

(ii) Utility bills, rental receipts, mortgage statements or similar documents that contain the name and address of the applicant dated at least two years prior to the date of application and from the most recent month.

For an individual listed as a person with a financial interest:

(A) Information or fingerprints for a criminal background check in accordance with OAR 845-025-1080; (B) An Individual History Form and any information identified in the form that is required to be submitted; and

(c) A map or sketch of the premises proposed for licensure, including the defined boundaries of the premises and the location of any primary residence located on the same tax lot or parcel as the licensed premises;

(d) A floor or plot plan sketch of all enclosed areas with clear identification of walls, partitions, counters, windows, all areas of ingress and egress, and all limited access areas;

(e) Proof of lawful possession of the premises proposed for licensure;

(f) An operating plan that demonstrates at a minimum, how the applicant’s proposed premises and business will comply with the applicable laws and rules regarding:

(A) Security;

(B) Employee qualifications and training;

(C) Transportation of product;

(D) Preventing minors from entering the licensed premises; and

(E) Preventing minors from obtaining or attempting to obtain marijuana items.

 

Update: Thanks to the cannabis community rallying together, the Medford City Council voted to table the vote on banning personal marijuana cultivation indefinitely. Council members may look into putting the issue to a vote of the people. Stay tuned to Marijuana Politics for updates. 

It is great to see firsthand how the cannabis community has rallied to fight a ban on personal marijuana cultivation in Medford, Oregon. Contrary to state law, a majority of city council members have already voted once to ban all indoor and outdoor cannabis gardens, setting up the mandatory second vote to pass the ordinance. Local patients and advocates braved a rather rainy day to hold a press conference before Medford City Hall and crowd into a packed chamber for the possible second vote.

The press conference was organized by Marijuana Politics and OMBC founder Alex Rogers as well as our blogger, Anthony Johnson, director of New Approach Oregon. Rogers and Johnson expressed their desire to protect the rights of patients’ and the will of Oregon’s voters by fighting the ban. Medford patient Mandy Valencia passionately spoke about her need for a medical cannabis garden and the plight that patients will face if they are denied safe access to their medicine.

As the Mail Tribune reports, there are 1,942 medical gardens registered in Medford:

A possible city ban on indoor and outdoor pot gardens would shut down 1,942 state-licensed medical marijuana growers in Medford.

Statistics provided by the Oregon Public Health Division indicate that almost one-third of the 6,070 licensed cannabis growers in Jackson County have a Medford ZIP code.

“I don’t think the city has the right to do this,” said James Carpenter, who has had a medical marijuana card since 1999 and has grown at his south Medford home for 12 years. He pays the state $350 a year for the license to grow his plants, which help him deal with several debilitating conditions.

House Bill 3400, recently passed by the Oregon Legislature, allows cities and counties to ban commercial marijuana businesses, either through a city council vote or voter referendum. Under HB 3400, Medford would be required to place any ban on commercial licenses before voters in a general election since the county supported legalization with more than 45% of the vote. House Bill 3400, however, doesn’t even give localities the ability to ban personal gardens. As Marijuana Politics’ blogger Russ Belville reported:

The ability to ban, as decided by the voters and the legislature, applies then to just the commercial marijuana world, from grow to sale, not to the personal four plants allowed for all adults and the medical six plants allowed for medical marijuana cardholders.

Even then, since Jackson County didn’t oppose Measure 91 by 55 percent, as per the West Idaho Compromise, they would have to refer any commercial marijuana bans to the voters at the next general election.

But the City of Medford isn’t concerned with state law. They are basing their right to ban on the twin pillars of local home rule and the federal prohibition on marijuana.

“The ability to ban grows is pre-empted by state law,” says Portland marijuana attorney Leland Berger.

Concerned citizens in Medford packed the city council chambers to the brim. Due to fire code regulations, the city had to institute a “one in, one out” policy that you would experience at some hot nightclub. The council postponed the vote and will hear more testimony at 7pm tonight at 411 W. 9th, #310, so advocates in the area can once again show their support. You can also call the council at 541-774-2000 or email them  at council@ci.medford.or.us. Please be respectful of the council members if you testify and let the elected officials know that we aren’t just talking about 1,942 gardens, we are discussing the lives of sick and disabled patients who depend upon access to medical cannabis.

The online audience declares Bernie Sanders the debate winner again following the second Democratic primary debate that focused heavily on foreign policy following the recent tragic terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut. It doesn’t come as a surprise that Bernie Sanders wins online polls as his base of support includes the kinds of voters likely to spend a lot of time on the internet, particularly younger voters. In addition to the millennials, the online community also includes highly-educated, tech-savvy types, as well as those that have turned away from traditional media sources and get their information from various internet media outlets. It is somewhat surprising that Sanders’ wins by such large margins among online participants, capturing more than 80%, and sometimes over 90%, on internet polls.

Sanders won the first debate according to both online polls and focus groups, when he broke major marijuana policy ground by stating that he would vote for Nevada’s 2016 marijuana legalization measure. Hillary Clinton, who proclaimed support for medical marijuana without backing full legalization, won traditional polls following the debate and seems to have strengthened her position in national polls. Clinton, a tremendous debater, impressed many viewers with not only her first debate performance, but also her testimony before the congressional Benghazi hearings.

Regardless of how polls look heading into voting season in 2016, it will be imperative for Senator Sanders to get off to a good start in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Most polls have Sanders competitive in New Hampshire as the Granite State should be a stronghold for the Vermont Senator. Some Iowa polls have the former Secretary of State up by as many as 30 points. However, Iowa caucuses are difficult to predict as voters must be very committed trudging to caucus sites in the Iowa winter and publicly supporting their candidate.

It would seem that Sanders’ enthusiastic base should be a strong foundation for him in Iowa and his young supporters are less likely to be polled for a variety of reasons (they reside in cell phone only households, are first-time or infrequent voters, etc.), so it will be interesting to see if the 2016 insurgent candidate can pull off an upset like Barack Obama did in 2008. These young and infrequent voters are also very likely to support cannabis legalization, one of the pillars of Sanders’ criminal justice platform. It will be imperative that these voters get to the polls to help ensure that our nation sees real progressive change with the next presidential administration.

For a country that claims to support military veterans, the United States government’s treatment of veterans often leaves much to be desired. The denial of medical cannabis for post-traumatic stress, severe pain, or any other serious medical condition is just one example of how we have collectively failed those that serve our nation. United States military veterans and their families have sacrificed too much over the years to be denied the ability to utilize a medicine that is legal under state law. While progress has been made on this front, we are one step closer to treating veterans as equal citizens thanks an amendment allowing VA doctors to recommend medical cannabis in states where medical marijuana is legal.

The suicide rate of veterans is a national disgrace and a bona fide epidemic of mass proportions. A 2013 study that examined veteran suicides from 1999 to 2010 found that 22 U.S. veterans commit suicide every day, nearly one vet every hour. Studies are ongoing about the efficacy of cannabis in treating post-traumatic stress, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence. Regardless of what studies end up saying, and we are confident that studies will prove that cannabis can help plenty of people battling post-traumatic stress, but can the consequences of cannabis really be more harmful than suicide?

Hopefully, compassion will prevail and veterans will soon be able to utilize a safe medicine recommended by their doctor. Too many lives are being harmed by prohibition, including our military veterans. it is time for Reefer Madness politics to step aside and our nation do what is right for those that have sacrificed for our nation.

Below is the full press release from the Drug Policy Alliance regarding this important amendment:

PRESS RELEASE  | 11/10/2015

Senate Approves Funding Bill That Allows Veterans to Access Medical Marijuana

Amendment Would Allow VA Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Their Patients in States Where It’s Legal

The Senate today passed the FY2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill, which includes language to allow Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. The language was included as anamendment in the Senate Appropriations committee in May.

“Veterans in medical marijuana states should be treated the same as any other resident, and should be able to discuss marijuana with their doctor,” said Michael Collins, deputy director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “It makes no sense that a veteran can’t use medical marijuana if it helps them and it is legal in their state.”

The Veterans Equal Access Amendment was sponsored by Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. It passed the Committee 18-12 in a bipartisan vote. The funding bill will now be negotiated with the House’s version as part of an omnibus spending bill.

“On this eve of Veterans/Armistice Day where we remember those who served in the military and the treaty agreement to reach peace concluding WWI, we see this victory as a step toward a peace treaty with the government we volunteered to defend with our lives and as a step toward restoring our first amendment rights and dignity as citizens of the United States, ” said TJ Thompson, a disabled Navy veteran.

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) specifically prohibits its medical providers from completing forms brought by their patients seeking recommendations or opinions regarding participation in a state medical marijuana program. The Daines-Merkley amendment authorizes VA physicians and other health care providers to provide recommendations and opinions regarding the use of medical marijuana to veterans who live in medical marijuana states.

In 2002, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in Conant v. Walters the right of physicians to recommend medical marijuana, regardless of its illegality under federal law, as well as the right of patients to receive accurate information. The Daines-Merkley amendment supports that first amendment right and restores a healthy doctor-patient relationship.

There are numerous federal healthcare programs besides the VA such as Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP – but only the VA prohibits physicians from discussing and recommending medical marijuana to their patients. A Medicare patient may freely discuss medical marijuana use with her doctor, while a returning veteran is denied the same right.

Studies have shown that medical marijuana can help treat post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, illnesses typically suffered by veterans. A 2014 study of people with PTSD showed a greater than 75% reduction in severity of symptoms when patients were using marijuana to treat their illness, compared to when they were not.

A legislative version of the Daines-Merkley amendment was included in groundbreaking Senate medical marijuana legislation introduced in March. The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act is the first-ever bill in the U.S. Senate to legalize marijuana for medical use and the most comprehensive medical marijuana bill ever introduced in Congress. The bill was introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and generated enormous interest.

With the Senate approving one element in the bill, supporters say it is time for the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on the full bill.

“The politics around marijuana have shifted in recent years, yet Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley hasn’t held a hearing on the bill,” said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “We will move the CARERS Act piece by piece if we have to but now is the time for the Senate to hold a hearing on the bill as a whole.”

Contact:

Tony Newman (646) 335-5384
Michael Collins (404) 539 6437

President Obama, while not perfect, has ended up being a relatively decent president on marijuana law and greater Drug War reforms. Allowing states to move forward with both medical and recreational marijuana laws without federal interference has been tremendous for the movement and the president should be commended for the early release of nonviolent drug offenders. President Obama’s policies have certainly helped lead the Democratic Party to start embracing sensible drug policy reform. President Obama should be proud to help usher in an era where Democratic presidential candidates are making criminal justice reform a staple of their campaigns.

President Obama needs to continue his rather pragmatic move towards more progressive drug policies by firing DEA Chief Chuck Rosenberg for calling medical marijuana a “joke.” Too many good people have received medicinal benefits from cannabis, from reducing the number of narcotic pain pills they take to helping reduce nausea when suffering through chemotherapy treatments. To call medical cannabis as joke is an insult to every patient that has used medical cannabis. CBS reported on Rosenberg’s offensive statement:

“What really bothers me is the notion that marijuana is also medicinal — because it’s not,” Rosenberg said in a briefing to reporters. “We can have an intellectually honest debate about whether we should legalize something that is bad and dangerous, but don’t call it medicine — that is a joke.”

The science is too clear (and Obama was supposed to base his administration on science over politics) that cannabis does indeed have medicinal benefits.In fact the federal government provides medical cannabis to a few patients, and their experiences clearly demonstrate that marijuana has medicinal benefits and that it can be utilized safely.  Factcheck.org noted that Rosenberg was simply wrong, stating, that “There is in fact evidence of smoked marijuana’s beneficial effects and safety.”

Marijuana Majority has created a petition calling for President Obama to fire Chuck Rosenberg. Please sign the petition and spread the word. The Obama Administration should not be employing an official that makes such insulting and unscientific comments.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference (OMBC) will provide those interested in the Oregon cannabis industry the foundation to succeed in the burgeoning market. Whether you want to be a wholesaler, retailer, processor, grower or in an ancillary business in Oregon, the OMBC is the conference for you. We here at Marijuana Politics are proud to sponsor the event and know that attendees will get the information they need, plus enjoy entertaining networking events that will help anyone involved with the Oregon cannabis industry. The same team that organizes the OMBC has gotten great reviews from producing similar conferences, such as the International Cannabis Business Conference and the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference.

Not many marijuana business conferences in Oregon will include presentations by legislators, activists, entrepreneurs, lawyers and throw in an exclusive conference by hip-hop legend Del the Funky Homosapien. The conference welcomes warmly any and all with interest in the cannabis industry and lawyers and experts will be on hand to answer any questions that attendees have, regarding both the medical and recreational programs.

The OMBC is being held at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites and Del will be performing at the Brickroom. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) will start accepting applications for recreational marijuana business licenses on January 4th, 2017. If you want to get a head start on the competition, the OMBC is the conference for you. Tickets for the OMBC go up to $199 on November 7th, so don’t delay and get your $149 discounted tickets today. For more information, check out www.OregonMBC.com or call 888-920-6076. Marijuana Politics will be there covering the event and we hope to see you there.

An anticipated ruling by the Mexican Supreme Court lays the foundation for the country to implement cannabis legalization. The 4-1 court decision didn’t end cannabis prohibition immediately, but it opens the door for future lawsuits and action to eventually legalize marijuana. Many advocates in the United States have wondered whether the U.S. Supreme Court would ever strike down marijuana prohibition, just as it recently legalized marriage equality. Whether that will ever happen is to be seen, but the Mexican Supreme Court has provided some guidance for other courts to follow. The New York Times reports:

The vote by the court’s criminal chamber declared that individuals should have the right to grow and distribute marijuana for their personal use. While the ruling does not strike down current drug laws, it lays the groundwork for a wave of legal actions that could ultimately rewrite them, proponents of legalization say.

The decision reflects a changing dynamic inMexico, where for decades the American-backed antidrug campaign has produced much upheaval but few lasting victories. Today, the flow of drugs to the United States continues, along with the political corruption it fuels in Mexico. The country, dispirited by the ceaseless campaign against traffickers, remains engulfed in violence.

***

The legal ruling on Wednesday barely referred to the bloody backdrop of the drug war. Instead, Justice Arturo Zaldívar wrote an 88-page opinion based on principles of human rights, arguing that the state recognizes an individual’s autonomy to engage in recreational activities that do not harm others.

The decision, based upon civil rights and individual autonomy, is relatively similar to the Alaska Supreme Court case of Ravin v. State, where the court ruled that the state hadn’t demonstrated a sufficient need to intrude into people’s homes for personal marijuana use. Too many people have undergone violent SWAT-like paramilitary raids over marijuana. The government should not bring violence into a nonviolent situation. It is very promising that Mexico seems to be moving away from the failed policy of cannabis prohibition. Legalizing and regulating cannabis will bring great benefits to the Mexican people and will help continue the momentum for sensible cannabis law reform across the globe.

Bernie Sanders continued his support for sensible Drug War reforms by introducing a bill that would effectively end federal marijuana prohibition, treating cannabis similar to alcohol. Throughout the Democratic primary, Sanders has continued to unveil a progressive cannabis policy platform. The Vermont Senator has stated that the Drug War is a failure, that states should be able to legalize marijuana without interference and that the federal private prison industry should be abolished. Sanders energized and pleased the cannabis law reform community when he announced his proposal to remove marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances.  TheHill.com reports:

The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act introduced Wednesday by Sanders would end the long-time federal prohibition on marijuana. This is the first Senate bill to propose legalizing recreational pot, according to marijuana advocates.

The legislation would remove the barriers for states that want to legalize recreational and medical marijuana without interference from the federal government. However, other states could still choose to prohibit pot.

The move could help Sanders further endear himself to younger voters as he seeks the Democratic presidential nomination. He became the first candidate from a major party to endorse marijuana legalization last week.

As The Huffington Post notes, Sanders’ bill has the backing of cannabis law reformers and a strong majority of Americans that now support cannabis legalization:

“This is the first time a bill to end federal marijuana prohibition has been introduced in the U.S. Senate,” said Tom Angell, chairman of Marijuana Majority. “A growing majority of Americans want states to be able to enact their own marijuana laws without harassment from the DEA, and lawmakers should listen. The introduction of this bill proves that the defeat of the Ohio marijuana monopoly measure that wasn’t widely supported in our movement isn’t doing anything to slow down our national momentum.”

“The science is clear that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and that should be reflected in our nation’s marijuana policy,” Marijuana Policy Project’s Mason Tvert said. “Sen. Sanders is simply proposing that we treat marijuana similarly to how we treat alcohol at the federal level, leaving most of the details to the states. It is a commonsense proposal that is long overdue in the Senate.”

A Gallup poll released last month found 58 percent of Americans are in favor of legalizing marijuana use.

Sanders rise to prominence as a legitimate challenge to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has come as a surprise to many, but he has crafted a progressive platform that is supported by a strong Democratic base this is likely to vote in primary elections. In addition to his policies, many voters are drawn to the insurgent candidate by his authenticity. Sanders’ support of cannabis legalization will only increase his support from Democratic primary voters who overwhelmingly support legalization and will likely reward him for supporting a common-sense position that many politicians are ridiculously afraid to touch.

Fresh on the heels of his major announcement on ending federal marijuana prohibition and challenging front-runner Hillary Clinton on cannabis legalization, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has launched his first campaign commercial. The commercial, titled “Real Change”, doesn’t mention legalization, but does stress his anti-establishment credentials and his long history of being on the right side of history.

Senator Sanders has clearly put himself on the right side of history on much-needed Drug War reforms. The War on Drugs has decimated too many communities across our nation. It is time for real change indeed and Senator Sanders is one candidate that understands the importance of ending cannabis prohibition. Win or lose, the insurgent candidate must be commended for moving the debate around cannabis policy and the greater Drug War towards a more sensible and humane approach that will improve lives and better utilize our country’s limited resources.

First, there was Smoke Buddy, a medical marijuana cart driving around Portland, Oregon, neighborhoods providing free cannabis, but charging for the jars. Some licensed medical marijuana dispensary owners complained about the cart, considering it unfair that someone could bypass the fees, rules and regulations they deal with through some type of perceived loophole. The Oregon Health Authority, the state agency that regulates Oregon’s medical cannabis system deemed any type of mobile dispensary illegal, but leaving the issue for law enforcement to contend with. Unfortunately, the proprietors of Smoke Buddy were the victims of a robbery. No word, as of yet, on whether Smoke Buddy is back up and operating.

Now, folks are utilizing Craigslist, possibly believing that they have secured a loophole in Oregon law, by claiming that the marijuana is free, but the baggie that the marijuana comes in, costs money. Somehow, the cost of the baggie, be it $25, $50, or $100, seems to corresponds with how much marijuana is in the bag. KOIN 6 reports:

“The concern of having marijuana for sale on, say, Craigslist is that it can be accessible to just about anyone,” Jonathan Modie with the Oregon Health Authority said. “Kids could buy it.”

For the record, Modie says private marijuana sales on websites like Craigslist are illegal altogether. But who goes after those selling it online?

According to the OHA and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, it’s essentially a police issue.

Illegally selling less than an ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor and can lead to an arrest and prison time. These Craigslist marijuana dealers are probably aware that police in Portland have bigger fish to fry than people selling less than an ounce on the internet. However, these Craigslist dealers are doing a great disservice to the voters, activists and legislators that helped create the best marijuana law in the country. Illegally selling marijuana, even after the passage of the Measure 91 legalization initiative, still remained a felony offense. Thanks to the passage of Measure 91, a majority of Oregon legislators were convinced to decrease marijuana penalties even further, downgrading unlawful delivery of marijuana to an adult a misdemeanor, instead of a felony, so long as not within 1,000 feet of a school, in House Bill 3400.

Advocates had to expend time, money and political capital lobbying the Oregon Legislature to decrease criminal penalties even further in House Bill 3400. By exploiting our new freedoms and sensible laws by openly selling marijuana, or baggies that just happen to contain marijuana, these actions give fodder to prohibitionists and can easily lead to voter backlash and hurt the efforts of other states that hope to join Oregon in the new future with their own legalization measures.

The momentum for marijuana legalization is increasing in the United States and abroad as we have seen great progress in a handful of states as well as entire countries. Cannabis law reform advocates from across the globe are working hard to see end the failed and harmful policy of cannabis prohibition. Colorado and Washington State led the way in America; Uruguay pushed the issue internationally; Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C. passed historic legalization measures in 2014; and the election of the Liberal Party in Canada placed a party that included marijuana legalization in its platform into power.

All of the progress for cannabis law reform makes future progress more and more likely as people can see that the sky doesn’t fall in places that and many aspects of society can actually improve when you better prioritize law enforcement resources, create new jobs and generate millions of dollars in revenue. The Rolling Stone’s Kristen Gwynne, recently wrote about the next five states she sees legalizing marijuana, here’s her top three:

1. California made history in 1996, when it became the first state to legalize medical marijuana; next November, it will vote to allow recreational weed, and polls indicate the amendment will likely pass. “Then we will have reached the tipping point,” says Angell, of the Marijuana Majority. “And with California having so many members in Congress, it will give a huge boost to our efforts to change federal law.”

2. Maine’s legislators may have rejected recreational marijuana this summer, but the state’s voters have taken measures into their own hands. A signature drive to put legalization on the 2016 ballot is underway, and in the past two years, voters in two of its biggest cities, Portland and South Portland, went ahead and passed referendums in favor of legislation.

3. Massachusetts opened its first medical dispensary this summer, and many believe the state will legalize weed by referendum in 2016. “Polls show voters are poised to pass full legalization next November,” says Angell.

Vermont and Nevada round out Gwynne’s top five. Interestingly, Gwynne left off Ohio when Buckeye State voters will be determining the fate of the controversial Issue 3 legalization measure sponsored by ResponsibleOhio on November 3rd. Recent polls in Ohio show a very close election for Issue 3, probably a nail biter. Our very own Russ Belville has been the biggest national proponent of Issue 3, helping NORML become more vocal as of late. There is much debate within the cannabis community about Issue 3 and we shall soon see if Ohio will be the first state to legalize marijuana in the Midwest and jump other states that have seemed more likely to legalize marijuana before the Buckeye State.

There are a lot of marijuana events around Portland, Oregon, these days, but not many feature farm-to-table food, the comedic stylings of Marijuana Politics’ own Ngaio Bealum, along with activism that supports medical cannabis patients and good marijuana laws. If you enjoy cannabis, comedy and good food, then the Autumn Roast this Saturday at the Prism House is just the event for you. In addition to the great food and times, you will be helping activists that give back to patients and important causes. From the Autumn Roast Eventbrite page:

Join us for a spectacular evening featuring locally grown & prepared cuisine (Prism House & Panacea Valley Gourmet Edibles Chefs), premium Oregon flowers & oils (do you want to be a sponsor to share your premium product?), Cannabis-infused comedian Ngaio Bealum, live music, and even a gift bag for guests to enjoy long after Autumn Roast!

This locally sourced menu includes many ingredients grown on premises. Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese, Roasted Chicken Skewers with Prism House’s famous Zucchini Rhubarb Marmalade and much more, with GF, Veg and V options! We will leave dessert to your imagination… it will certainly not disappoint!

Medical marijuana has been gaining more acceptance across the globe as citizens and elected officials have learned about the medicinal benefits of cannabis. Medical marijuana laws have been very successful across the United States as twenty-three states and the nation’s capital have legalized medicinal cannabis. Medical cannabis has been approved from a variety of medical conditions and ailments, including cancer, epileptic seizures, severe pain and HIV/AIDS. Anyone with familiarity with cannabis, would understand the benefits of increasing the appetite and reducing the nausea and a recent study showed that medical marijuana states had lower rates of opioid deaths.

Australia is the next government to implement sensible cannabis laws. The inevitable success of the medical cannabis program Down Under will only add to the momentum that medical cannabis is seeing around the globe. Reuters reports:

Australia is altering its drug laws to allow for the cultivation of marijuana for medicinal and scientific purposes, removing a major hurdle to the establishment of clinical trials of the drug, the government said on Saturday.

Draft amendments to the Narcotics Drugs Act are being finalised to allow for the controlled cultivation of marijuana, giving patients access to “a safe, legal and sustainable supply of locally produced products for the first time,” Health Minister Sussan Ley said in a statement.

Australian manufacturers, researchers and patients currently have to access international supplies of legal medicinal marijuana, with cost, limited supply and export barriers making this challenging.

Allowing for the controlled cultivation of marijuana in Australia will provide the critical “missing piece” where laws already exist to licence the manufacture and supply of medicinal cannabis-based products, but local production of the crop remains forbidden, Ley said.

Despite great advances, progress is moving painfully slow for patients that could benefit from cannabis. It is absurd that some so-called civilized societies still criminalize the use of medical cannabis. Fortunately, the acceptance of medical cannabis across the globe is advancing and more and more patients are benefiting from a safe, nontoxic medicine. It is great that Australia is moving forward in a relatively sensible manner. Each and every country that legalizes medical cannabis not only helps their own citizens, but makes it more likely that another country will join the medical cannabis fraternity; doing so is simply the compassionate and sensible decision.

Portland Hempstalk has had its ups and downs with the City of Portland. The festival that has been helping raise awareness about the benefits of cannabis and hemp for years had its permit taken away and has had to jump through some serious bureaucratic hoops. Advocates eventually had to take to Portland City Hall and garner a majority of the city commissioners to proceed with the festival this year. The Portland Police Bureau and Parks Bureau both opposed a permit for this year’s Hempstalk, but activists, wouldn’t be denied, winning a 3-1 vote in favor of granting the festival a license, as The Oregonian reported:

The vote came after more than two hours of testimony from city officials and Hempstalk supporters and organizers. The testimony included widely different accounts of what happened at last year’s event.

Police and parks officials once again painted a picture of “rampant drug use” and willful negligence by organizers, who they said encouraged attendees to smoke pot outside the gates.

Hempstalk supporters said that just simply wasn’t true, contending that the organizers did everything they could to prevent the consumption and sale of marijuana at the park. Hempstalk argued the city consistently holds the festival to an unfair double standard, comparing the event to the Oregon Brewers Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival and other events.

Hempstalk organizers then cut it close on paying the Waterfront Park permit fee, but The Oregonian reported that the fee was paid in time to proceed:

Hempstalk festival organizers paid the Portland Parks Bureau nearly $17,000 on Wednesday for a permit to use Tom McCall Waterfront Park this weekend.

With a Thursday deadline nearing, the marijuana-and-hemp celebration had been in doubt. Now, Parks Bureau spokesman Mark Ross said, it’s on.

Organizer Paul Stanford said Wednesday morning that coordinators of the free-admission event are cramming seven months of work into about a month.

As always, Hempstalk will be jam-packed with great speakers and live music. Marijuana Politics blogger Ngaio Bealum will be an MC for the event. Our editor, and New Approach Oregon Director, Anthony Johnson, who co-authored and served as Chief Petitioner of the Measure 91 legalization law, will be speaking on Saturday at 4:45pm. Our blogger, Cyd Maurer, former KEZI TV news anchor turned cannabis activist extraordinaire, will be speaking just under an hour later at 5:40pm. Sunday’s highlights include federal medical cannabis patient Elvy Musikka and a 6:00pm performance by Los Marijuanos   This year’s Hempstalk will provide an opportunity for area advocates and enthusiasts to celebrate how far Oregon has come improving marijuana laws, while also providing necessary information on how to protect the gains made and to improve the law in the Great Northwest and across the nation.