Oregon In no other state were lawmakers as active in instituting statewide marijuana law reforms in 2013 as they were in Oregon. During the 2013 session, lawmakers enacted and Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber signed into law, four separate pieces of legislation liberalizing the state’s pot policies. Lawmakers expanded the state’s nearly 15-year-old medical marijuana law by approving Senate Bill 281 – which allows physicians to legally recommend cannabis to post-traumatic stress patients – and by enacting House Bill 3460, which provides for the creation of state-licensed cannabis dispensaries to serve the needs to the state’s 57,000 registered patients. State lawmakers also enacted some relief for non-patients by passing Senate Bills 40 and 82. Senate Bill 82 eliminates the suspension of driving privileges for persons cited for possessing one ounce or less of cannabis. Senate Bill 40 reclassifies marijuana offenses involving the possession of over one ounce, but less than four ounces of marijuana, from a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison, to a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by no more than six months in prison. It also reclassifies offenses involving the possession of less than one-quarter ounce of hashish from a felony to a Class B misdemeanor and reduces the maximum fine associated with civil violations involving the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana from $1,000 to no more than $650. Both Senate measures took effect upon their passage in July.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:00:02 +0000
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