We highlight this proposed bill amongst the 100’s of bills being presented at state legislatures throughout the country because it’s passing could engender an avalanche of other bills in states around the country wanting to do the same thing and the precedent of states trading the commodity before Federal legislation is in play just presents another set of questions.
Exporting Surplus Cannabis Out-Of-State
Description: Permits the Governor to enter into inter-governmental agreements with other governments to export cannabis out-of-state
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Introduced
The Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association Also Highlight The Following Bills
We suggest these bills illustrate a growing maturity in the OR cannabis market and an understanding of the issues raised as the sector moves from one of rapid growth to becoming an increasingly embedded part of the state’s economy
2) Social Consumption/ Cannabis Lounges / Tasting Rooms
Description: Creates exemption in the Clean Indoor Air Act to allow for limited licensing of indoor consumption spaces specifically for cannabis.
There have been significant strides on this issue since 2017 when it was first discussed in the legislature, though it’s unclear if we have the necessary political capital to make this massive change this year.
Opponents are myriad and we expect an uphill battle again this time – in fact, we may need to push this to the 2020 ballot in order to see the sweeping reform we would need.
Several opponents consider any legislation that alters the Clean Indoor Air Act in any way as a total non-starter. Others – like us – say we MUST create those exemptions in order to move forward on this issue.
3) Employment Protections for Off-Hours Cannabis Use
Description: Prohibits employers from not hiring or firing a candidate/employee for off-hours cannabis consumption.
A version of this bill was introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017 as SB 301. We are spearheading the conversations this year with lawmakers and have gotten this concept reintroduced for 2019.
If Vancouver BC cops can consume cannabis safely during their off hours without fear of losing their job and their livelihood, then we think the average worker in Oregon should be allowed to as well.
Legislators are a lot more sympathetic to the case this time around as well! And in fact, this bill has already been scheduled for a public hearing in the House in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for more updates from us on how this bill may fare this year.
4) Automatic Expunctions For Past Cannabis Offenses
Description: Automatically removes past cannabis convictions and offenses from records without requiring manual expunction procedure.
This is another example of legislation that was explored in past sessions but didn’t have enough support to make it through. Our proposal would change the current system of expungement through an application system to a system that automatically reviews and expunges the appropriate past cannabis convictions from peoples’ records without a need for an application. This is similar to the new expungement law in California and elsewhere, and what folks are fighting for in Canada.
This is important because the application process is expensive, time-consuming, and circuitous. As a result, many have not taken advantage of the opportunity. This bill would help many more people.
5) Prohibits medical cannabis consumers from being denied organ transplants based on having cannabis in their system
Description: Prohibits folks consuming medical cannabis with the recommendation of a doctor from being denied entry or participation in programs where they would be the recipient of a donated organ.
This one is literally life and death for some people, and it was a matter of life and death for several long-time advocate and activist buddies who are no longer with us – people like Jim Klahr and Jim Greig.
No one should be denied life-saving treatment because they chose to consume cannabis. This will hopefully be an easy bill and – based on the hearing that was held at the capitol on Tuesday – ought to pass into law. But sure enough, folks still came out to oppose it at the hearing, so we know for sure that we do have an opposition pushing back on it.