A Beginner’s Guide to Marijuana Use in Oregon

Full of a sense of history and beauty, Oregon is one of those places people can’t seem to resist.

With recreational, adult-use marijuana sales and use legal in the Beaver State since 2015, the allure may be a tad stronger for some.

But of course, there are some things you should know before toking up for the first time. And yes, it means you’ll have to do a little more than binge-watch “Portlandia.”

Cannabis in Oregon

Oregonians passed the Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act,  or Measure 91, in November 2014 with 56 percent of the vote, legalizing recreational cannabis use and regulating its sales. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) oversees licensing and regulation of adult-use marijuana. Recreational use officially became legal on July 1, 2015.

Medical marijuana had been legal in the state for many years prior. Oregon voters approved the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, or Measure 67, in 1998. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) oversees medical marijuana licensing and regulation.

Where and How to Buy

Adults ages 21 and older can buy recreational marijuana from licensed retailers. Weedmaps, the parent company of Marijuana.com, offers a user-friendly search tool to find local cannabis retailers Alternatively, the OLCC has a list of active approved marijuana retailers.

Bring a government-issued identification and cash, since most retailers can’t deal with banks because of marijuana’s status as a Scheduled I controlled substance on a federal level.

What Isn’t Allowed

Even though those 21 and older can use and buy recreational marijuana in Oregon, public consumption in any form is a no-no. “Public” means any of a number of locations, including apartment common areas, streets, parks, and bus and train stops. Plus, its use isn’t allowed at establishments with liquor licenses, such as bars and restaurants. In other words, use it on private property, like inside your home. However, if you have a landlord, he or she can prohibit its use.

And for those of you who consider your car your palace, using marijuana in a parked car where the public can see you isn’t allowed. It is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, and passengers in the car aren’t allowed to use it, either. Remember, taking marijuana across state lines is illegal, but Portland International Airport (PDX) does allow passengers flying within the state to board with the legal public possession amount of 1 ounce, or 28.35 grams. Smoking it on the plane, however, is forbidden.

There are also both public and private possession limits for legal, recreational, adult use. In public, legal users can have:

• 1 ounce, or 28.35 g, of usable marijuana in the form of dried leaves and flowers1 ounce, or 28.35 g, of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates bought from a licensed marijuana retailer
• 16 ounces, or 453.6 g, of cannabinoid product in solid form
• 72 fluid ounces, or 2.13 liters, of cannabinoid product in liquid form; or
• 10 marijuana seeds and four immature marijuana plants.

On private property, legal recreational users can have:

• 8 ounces, or 226.8 g, of dried marijuana leaves and flowers
• 1 ounce, or 28.35 g, of cannabinoid extracts or concentrates bought from a licensed marijuana retailer
• 16 ounces, or 453.6 g, of cannabinoid product in solid form
• 72 fluid ounces, or 2.13 liters, of cannabinoid product in liquid form, or
• 10 marijuana seeds and four marijuana plants.

First-Time Use in Oregon

The relatively hefty possession limits, especially on private property, may tempt the novice user to head to the marijuana retailer as if buying at a bulk warehouse. But as the marijuana mantra goes: Stick with low and slow.

Take your time perusing the selection at the retailer. Ask a lot of questions and make selections based on a few goals, like “I want to unwind and de-stress.” See how it goes. When you return, you’ll refine the process.