Due to concerns over federal crackdown on the legal cannabis industry, lawmakers in Oregon have proposed legislation that would require cannabis businesses to destroy customer information gathered for marketing purposes within 48 hours, according to an Associated Press report. Retaining private information, such as names, addresses and birthdates, for promotional use is illegal under Colorado’s and Alaska’s adult-use laws. It’s not illegal, although frowned upon, in Washington.
State Sen. Floyd Prozanski, a Democrat and one of the bill’s sponsors, said the measure would help protect the state’s citizens from possible federal prosecution.
“I could see where the federal government would come in and try to gather this information from businesses that have stockpiled it and retained it in their records,” he said in the report.
Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli, another bill sponsor, said he was concerned about the privacy of federal employees or firearm owners if the federal government were to obtain the customer information.
“When you go to purchase a firearm, you have to fill out a background check, and there’s a specific question about marijuana use on that form,” he said. “I would hate to think that some misguided effort at the federal level to coordinate the client lists that could be confiscated in absence of this (proposal) with the firearms purchase lists.”
The measure is set for its first hearing tomorrow. It would need to be passed by the full legislature and signed by Democratic Gov. Kate Brown before it is effective.
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