Oregon was the first American state to decriminalize the possession of marijuana in small quantities. Then it became the second to authorize the sale on medical prescription. It is now legal to consume it for recreational purposes. And with this, the first Cannabis dispensary Portland, Oregon opened. This opened a new market that boosts the local economy.
Boosting the local economy
First in 2009, Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to have a cannabis cafe. However, shortly after, in 2018, the first cannabis dispensary in Portland, Oregon opened and it would be the first of hundreds of dispensaries currently in Oregon.
Even before the first Portland, Oregon cannabis dispensary opened its door in the region, the smell of drugs was already in the nose. In these shops with very designer decor, you can find cannabis in all its forms: joints (prerolls), lotions and infusions, chocolate bars and cookies, and all kinds of accessories, ashtrays, or water pipes.
In 1973, Oregon was the first American state to decriminalize the possession of marijuana in small quantities. Then, in 1998, it became the second to authorize the sale on medical prescriptions. Since January 1, 2016, following a referendum approved by 56% of the inhabitants, it has even been legal for adults to consume it for recreational purposes and to grow it in their gardens (up to four feet).
It's a new market that boosts the local economy. But also public finances: $3.5 million in taxes on non-therapeutic sales were collected in the first month of 2016 and invested in education, health, police services, and more.
In 2020, marijuana sales topped $1 billion in Oregon, with nearly $100 million in sales recorded each month on average.
The differences between recreational cannabis and medical cannabis
About 18 years after the legalization of medical cannabis, recreational cannabis was legalized in 2016 in Portland. However, all producers of medical cannabis and most producers of recreational cannabis must comply with local and federal laws that authorize and regulate production. Whether used for recreational or medical purposes, cannabis must meet the same rigorous production, quality, security, safety, testing, and control criteria.
Here are the key differences between recreational and medical cannabis:
- Unlike recreational cannabis, medical cannabis is given as a prescription pill signed by a medical professional.
- A medical professional establishes the dose and supervises the intake of medical cannabis. This is not the case for recreational cannabis.
- Obtaining cannabis for medical purposes requires following a process that complies with federal legislation. As for recreational cannabis, it is sold, among others, by authorized provincial businesses.
Unlike a dispensary, a pharmacist who has your state of health at your fingertips can be a neutral source of knowledge. Ask him about cannabis, its effects, and potential interactions with your medications if he’s familiar with it.
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