First U.S. marijuana cafe opens in Portland
11-16-2009 | 10:20 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 23,223
Likes: 6
From: Upstate NY
Vehicle: 2010 Genesis 2.0T
First U.S. marijuana cafe opens in Portland
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...5AD06O20091114
QUOTE
PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - The United States' first marijuana cafe opened on Friday, posing an early test of the Obama administration's move to relax policing of medical use of the drug.
The Cannabis Cafe in Portland, Oregon, is the first to give certified medical marijuana users a place to get hold of the drug and smoke it -- as long as they are out of public view -- despite a federal ban.
"This club represents personal freedom, finally, for our members," said Madeline Martinez, Oregon's executive director of NORML, a group pushing for marijuana legalization.
"Our plans go beyond serving food and marijuana," said Martinez. "We hope to have classes, seminars, even a Cannabis Community College, based here to help people learn about growing and other uses for cannabis."
The cafe -- in a two-story building which formerly housed a speak-easy and adult erotic club Rumpspankers -- is technically a private club, but is open to any Oregon residents who are NORML members and hold an official medical marijuana card.
Members pay $25 per month to use the 100-person capacity cafe. They don't buy marijuana, but get it free over the counter from "budtenders". Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., it serves food but has no liquor license.
There are about 21,000 patients registered to use marijuana for medical purposes in Oregon. Doctors have prescribed marijuana for a host of illnesses, including Alzheimer's, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Tourette's syndrome.
On opening day, reporters invited to the cafe could smell, but were not allowed to see, people smoking marijuana.
"I still run a coffee shop and events venue, just like I did before we converted it to the Cannabis Cafe, but now it will be cannabis-themed," said Eric Solomon, the owner of the cafe, who is looking forward to holding marijuana-themed weddings, film festivals and dances in the second-floor ballroom.
NO PROSECUTION
The creation of the cafe comes almost a month after the Obama administration told federal attorneys not to prosecute patients who use marijuana for medical reasons or dispensaries in states which have legalized them.
About a dozen states, including Oregon, followed California's 1996 move to adopt medical marijuana laws, allowing the drug to be cultivated and sold for medical use. A similar number have pending legislation or ballot measures planned.
Pot cafes, known as "coffee shops", are popular in the Dutch city of Amsterdam, where possession of small amounts of marijuana is legal. Portland's Cannabis Cafe is the first of its kind to open in the United States, according to NORML.
Growing, possessing, distributing and smoking marijuana are still illegal under U.S. federal law, which makes no distinction between medical and recreational use.
Federal and local law enforcement agencies did not return phone calls from Reuters on Friday seeking comment on the Portland cafe's operations.
"To have a place that is this open about its activities, where people can come together and smoke -- I say that's pretty amazing." said Tim Pate, a longtime NORML member, at the cafe.
Some locals are hoping it might even be good for business.
"I know some neighbors are pretty negative about this place opening up," said David Bell, who works at a boutique that shares space with the cafe. "But I'm withholding judgment. There's no precedent for it. We don't know what to expect. But it would great if it brought some customers into our store."
The Cannabis Cafe in Portland, Oregon, is the first to give certified medical marijuana users a place to get hold of the drug and smoke it -- as long as they are out of public view -- despite a federal ban.
"This club represents personal freedom, finally, for our members," said Madeline Martinez, Oregon's executive director of NORML, a group pushing for marijuana legalization.
"Our plans go beyond serving food and marijuana," said Martinez. "We hope to have classes, seminars, even a Cannabis Community College, based here to help people learn about growing and other uses for cannabis."
The cafe -- in a two-story building which formerly housed a speak-easy and adult erotic club Rumpspankers -- is technically a private club, but is open to any Oregon residents who are NORML members and hold an official medical marijuana card.
Members pay $25 per month to use the 100-person capacity cafe. They don't buy marijuana, but get it free over the counter from "budtenders". Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., it serves food but has no liquor license.
There are about 21,000 patients registered to use marijuana for medical purposes in Oregon. Doctors have prescribed marijuana for a host of illnesses, including Alzheimer's, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Tourette's syndrome.
On opening day, reporters invited to the cafe could smell, but were not allowed to see, people smoking marijuana.
"I still run a coffee shop and events venue, just like I did before we converted it to the Cannabis Cafe, but now it will be cannabis-themed," said Eric Solomon, the owner of the cafe, who is looking forward to holding marijuana-themed weddings, film festivals and dances in the second-floor ballroom.
NO PROSECUTION
The creation of the cafe comes almost a month after the Obama administration told federal attorneys not to prosecute patients who use marijuana for medical reasons or dispensaries in states which have legalized them.
About a dozen states, including Oregon, followed California's 1996 move to adopt medical marijuana laws, allowing the drug to be cultivated and sold for medical use. A similar number have pending legislation or ballot measures planned.
Pot cafes, known as "coffee shops", are popular in the Dutch city of Amsterdam, where possession of small amounts of marijuana is legal. Portland's Cannabis Cafe is the first of its kind to open in the United States, according to NORML.
Growing, possessing, distributing and smoking marijuana are still illegal under U.S. federal law, which makes no distinction between medical and recreational use.
Federal and local law enforcement agencies did not return phone calls from Reuters on Friday seeking comment on the Portland cafe's operations.
"To have a place that is this open about its activities, where people can come together and smoke -- I say that's pretty amazing." said Tim Pate, a longtime NORML member, at the cafe.
Some locals are hoping it might even be good for business.
"I know some neighbors are pretty negative about this place opening up," said David Bell, who works at a boutique that shares space with the cafe. "But I'm withholding judgment. There's no precedent for it. We don't know what to expect. But it would great if it brought some customers into our store."
11-16-2009 | 10:33 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Mississauga, Canada
Vehicle: 1998 Hyundai Accent
LOL we'll see how long it takes federal agents and a swat team to raid the building and arrest everyone on site like they did to all the cafe's and most dispensaries in Cali...
I for one smoke it.. and dont see how it causes any harm to anyone.... but then again.. that's just my "biased" if you might say, opinion.
What's a guy gonna do after smoking and driving? crash into a minivan full of kids and kill them then take off?? or will he even get out onto the highway.. because he's too busy checking every blindspot possible on his car.. and coming to a complete stop at a stopsign for 10 seconds?
Much more pressing and severe problems in the U.S that they should be worrying about.... like gun deaths.. heroine.. oxy's ... crack... pcp....
I for one smoke it.. and dont see how it causes any harm to anyone.... but then again.. that's just my "biased" if you might say, opinion.
What's a guy gonna do after smoking and driving? crash into a minivan full of kids and kill them then take off?? or will he even get out onto the highway.. because he's too busy checking every blindspot possible on his car.. and coming to a complete stop at a stopsign for 10 seconds?
Much more pressing and severe problems in the U.S that they should be worrying about.... like gun deaths.. heroine.. oxy's ... crack... pcp....
11-18-2009 | 09:48 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk, VA
Vehicle: 2003 Hyundai Accent
QUOTE (UnnaturallyAspirated @ Nov 16 2009, 12:33 PM)
LOL we'll see how long it takes federal agents and a swat team to raid the building and arrest everyone on site like they did to all the cafe's and most dispensaries in Cali...
I for one smoke it.. and dont see how it causes any harm to anyone.... but then again.. that's just my "biased" if you might say, opinion.
What's a guy gonna do after smoking and driving? crash into a minivan full of kids and kill them then take off?? or will he even get out onto the highway.. because he's too busy checking every blindspot possible on his car.. and coming to a complete stop at a stopsign for 10 seconds?
Much more pressing and severe problems in the U.S that they should be worrying about.... like gun deaths.. heroine.. oxy's ... crack... pcp....
I for one smoke it.. and dont see how it causes any harm to anyone.... but then again.. that's just my "biased" if you might say, opinion.
What's a guy gonna do after smoking and driving? crash into a minivan full of kids and kill them then take off?? or will he even get out onto the highway.. because he's too busy checking every blindspot possible on his car.. and coming to a complete stop at a stopsign for 10 seconds?
Much more pressing and severe problems in the U.S that they should be worrying about.... like gun deaths.. heroine.. oxy's ... crack... pcp....
I stopped smoking a long time ago, but I definatly want to see it legalized. I had a high paying job that I loved, but got caught lost my licence and job. I never smoked at or before work. and never drove stoned. People say pot ruins lives, but it was the fact that it's illegal that screwed me. I for one hope this legalization train keeps going!
11-19-2009 | 09:01 AM
#4
http://www.hyundaiaftermarket.org/images/vendor1.png
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 0
when I have cash I smoke, but its been so long that I had cash I just can't justify the expense, since it only adds to the stress that covers up temporarily. My good friend just told me his brother opened a dispensary about 3 miles from my house, but I just don't think I'm comfy with some shop having me in their files for the FED to look at later if they decide to shut him down and take his files. I dont see how this "coffee shop" is the first of its kind tho? There are literally thousands of dispensaries, and plenty of them in say, Venice Beach, you can buy, then toke up right there. Of course that's after you show your card, and are inside.
If they'd just apply some CRV to pot like they do with booze, they'd be bringing in TONS of passive cash to the state, and they'd be pissing off all the bricked crap bud movers from Mexico = keep our cash in OUR economy. I dont think they should be any less strict on non "legal" bud smokers, but for those that have a license, why not just make that license actually state and fed recognized, and let people buy it from pharmacies just like the other prescribed drugs. For now, the license IMO is just to get you in the door of dispensaries. Cops laugh at em, and still do what they want with you, if not treat you worse because you think you're some little lawyer with your weed law misconception, lol. I hate cops.
If they'd just apply some CRV to pot like they do with booze, they'd be bringing in TONS of passive cash to the state, and they'd be pissing off all the bricked crap bud movers from Mexico = keep our cash in OUR economy. I dont think they should be any less strict on non "legal" bud smokers, but for those that have a license, why not just make that license actually state and fed recognized, and let people buy it from pharmacies just like the other prescribed drugs. For now, the license IMO is just to get you in the door of dispensaries. Cops laugh at em, and still do what they want with you, if not treat you worse because you think you're some little lawyer with your weed law misconception, lol. I hate cops.