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Regional Journalism
Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Oregon Legislature. This is a venue for political and policy coverage of the state government in Salem and its impact on the people of Oregon.

Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin Thursday In Oregon

Austin Jenkins
/
Northwest News Network
File photo. Recreational marijuana sales in Oregon start on October 1.

Starting Thursday, adults 21 and over can buy marijuana for recreational use in Oregon. And they'll have plenty of places to buy it from.

Recreational marijuana use became legal in Oregon starting in July. But adults had no place to legally buy it. The solution Oregon lawmakers settled on was to allow medical pot dispensaries to sell to the general public.

More than 200 dispensaries signed up. That includes Cougar Cannabis in Roseburg. Owner Shellie Grammer said lots of people without medical marijuana cards have already been knocking on her door.

"We just let everybody know that Thursday, October 1 we'd be more than happy to help them out,” she said. “But not until then."

For now, recreational users will only be able to buy seeds, immature marijuana plants, and dried leaves and flowers. Edibles and other processed products won't come on line until next year.

Also coming next year is a 25 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana. Temporarily, it's tax-free.

Standalone recreational stores will be licensed starting next year. Not every medical marijuana dispensary will be selling to recreational users. Some cities and counties have banned such sales.