There’s a new party standard in freshly-legalized Oregon: it’s not a real celebration unless there’s free weed involved.
Last night, Portland marijuana enthusiasts flocked to the Burnside Bridge, where a collection of revelers gathered to await the stroke of midnight, which marked the end of marijuana prohibition in Oregon.
As per Measure 91, the successful legalization initiative passed by Oregon voters in 2014, the growing and possession of marijuana is now legal in Oregon for adults who are at least 21 years old. The new law also allows individuals to gift small amounts of cannabis (as well as seeds and/or plants) to other appropriately-aged individuals — this technicality was the basis for last night’s event.
Dubbed the ‘Burnside Burn,’ the festivities were organized by journalist and marijuana activist Russ Belville and the Portland NORML chapter. The event was both a celebration of legalization and an outlet for enthusiasts to safely score some pot for Legalization Day — even though cannabis is now legal, there is not yet a legal method of purchasing it for recreational use.
Under the new law, adults may now possess up to an ounce of weed on their person (up to eight ounces at home), and may cultivate up to four cannabis plants per household. An interim marketplace will likely be established in October, which will allow medical dispensaries to serve the state’s demand for recreational cannabis until the fall of 2016, when state-licensed retail stores are expected to open.
Sources:
http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2015/06/qa_everything_you_need_to_know.html
Photo Credit: Cannabis Copywriting