Community | November 14, 2009 | 51 comments

First U.S. marijuana cafe opens in Portland

source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5AD06O20091114?feedType=RSS&feedName=dome...

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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.

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51 comments // First U.S. marijuana cafe opens in Portland

  • Timmy_Pannell
  • hell0everything
  • J_Jammer
  • LadybugLady
  • abg123
  • moosefly24
  • trut
  • stolenapples
  • Jelina_Howard
  • jch41878
  • chinese_democracy
  • ismaelo44
  • stephenthomson
  • jcamille
  • ashgallagher
    • 0
      ashgallagher  

    • this is definitely a progressive move. legalizing it may not be as harmful as some think, and certainly, as in this case, there are plenty of ways to restrict the use by tax and medical accommodations.

    • 2 years ago
  • ploomis
  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  

    • You are right jay , keep it in the hands of those who do it to be courageous and help people . Allow people to grow it always too . Let it be like the air , for everyone .

    • 2 years ago
  • ankab
  • CalgarC
  • cabinettags
    • 0
      cabinettags  

    • Folks, I've decided to post an opinion on here. I've had to defeat some personal demons, as I posted this very article earlier- from the same source. But I deleted it. The message is too important to be diluted with any side issues. As I just told Hunze., the movement is more important. I've waited too long for this to let personal crap stand in the way. I truly do believe that I don't care who drives; I just care where we're going.

      As I was discussing with huntz, what this movement needs is a way to make our numbers known publically. Something that hopefully won't land you in the can or get you fired. Huntz hit it.

      How does it strike you that the situation of the discrimination against pot smokers be pushed in the public eye every day? A thing that can't be ignored. Yet one you can deny responsibility for if push comes to shove? As I said, Huntz hit it.

      GREEN. Let's share the emblem of the freedom fighters in Iran. GREEN.

      Here are your instructions, gentle reader. Attach a green flag, rag, or what have you on your car's radio antenna. That's all. Just put it on there and drive around with it. If you're caught, claim sombody else did it. But attach the thing. Lets have cars with green flags flying from one end of this country to the other. You can't get in trouble. No law against being stupid - or unobservant. But to see all those green flags flying will make a statement like a champ. The press will pick it up. Advocate or deny as the situation warrants. But FLY THE FLAG.

      They want to know how many we are? LETS SHOW THEM.

    • 2 years ago
  • hell0everything
  • Stentor
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • This is great news I like the idea of Portland become the Amsterdam of the west. Come on out and enjoy the ride. Not to mention we have the best public transit system in America.

    • 2 years ago
  • ibrake4rappers13
  • pandaman2105
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  

    • Been seriously considering moving to Oregon...tired of the desert. AND...this is one more reason to do so!
      Good for you Oregon, and the Cannabis Cafe!

    • 2 years ago
  • crispyfritters
  • Minus5scenePoints
    • 0
      Minus5scenePoints  

    • I'm not a fan of pot at all. I kinda hate the stuff. But, I DO think we should legalize it, and this is a good step in that direction for it. As to why I think we should legalize it, yes it'll be taxed and a huge income from it. Also, once it's taxed and not illegal, maybe pot heads won't feel so cool for doing it and it won't be as socially rebellious.

    • 2 years ago
  • quixotic12
  • hunzedog
    • 0
      hunzedog  

    • you daggum right
      dont think its missed
      just look to da side
      at the top of yo list

      devils damn weed
      our thoughts just dont matter
      go put on some lipstick
      and stop all that chatter

    • 2 years ago
  • Mudboy16
  • cabinettags
  • LadybugLady
  • lattipau
    • 0
      lattipau  

    • Portland is the town of 4 B's.

      Beauty, bikes, beer, buds!

      So much of the recovery is mental so to have a positive place for people lean on each other instead of by themselves in covert recovery will only improve their lives. Now if we can get insurance companies to pay for other forms of alternative healing. People will not only survive, but thrive.

    • 2 years ago
  • jay77
    • 0
      jay77  

    • This is one step closer to the decriminalization of marijuana, which makes me very happy. However, if we legalize marijuana completely, we allow companies like phillip morris to get their grubby little hands on something that they don't deserve. Taxes will drive the price up, and people who don't need to get any richer will put dude up the street out of business. He's just trying to pay his rent, let him sell pot. In California, the penalties are currently stiffer for someone who cultivates tobacco than for someone who cultivates marijuana. Keep marijuana out of the hands of major corporations.

    • 2 years ago
  • serenden68
  • cephas
    • 0
      cephas  
    • serenden68:

      Dude there are 3 places on Ventura between Encino and Woodland Hills that let you buy your herb, smoke inside, order coffee and one even has the NFL Channel on 3 TVs!

    • 2 years ago
  • Progresshiv
    • 0
      Progresshiv  

    • Portlanders may abandon the Rose Festival (their annual June Rite of Spring) in favor of a Cannabis Extravaganza, complete with princesses, parades, and plenty of cheap junk food..

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  

    • This is so cool. I hope others will do this and it progresses to more states. If cannabis helps with peoples ailments it should be available to help them and with a social eating area the clients can share their helping experiences with others like them. So physical and emotional feeding of the clients! Happy Healing!

    • 2 years ago
  • MikeysChair
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • I too live in Portland Oregon and I am proud of our progressive views and a nickname the socialist republic of Portland. The future is here in gods country where we have four seasons and are in touch with mother earth and all that is hers.

    • 2 years ago
  • lattipau
    • 0
      lattipau  

    • I am from Portland and people here think it is really no big deal. We think it's great, but have seen it coming for a long time. I hope that more states see this model and adopt a similar stance. At least now some patients can eat and replenish the vital energy they need to recover and fight. I just hope they are not serving only Doritos and cookies!

    • 2 years ago
  • Strobeman
    • 0
      Strobeman  

    • A Cannabis Community College? Sounds like a title of a National Lampoon movie. This article is rife with humor potential. Where do you go if you can't hack it at Cannabis Community College?

    • 2 years ago
  • RojoGatto
  • AndrewH13
  • jimmydaperv
    • 0
      jimmydaperv  

    • This could definitely help the economy. Instead of spending millions to combat marijuana trafficking, the gov can be making millions taxing it. Giant tobacco corporations like Phillip-Morris should be using their D.C. influence to legalize marijuana. Less Americans are smoking cigarrettes. Giant tobacco conglomerates are capable and likely eager to start production.

    • 2 years ago
  • sankofa416
    • 0
      sankofa416  
    • jimmydaperv:

      I'm all for them fighting to get it legalized, but I'm dubious of a product coming from the same parent company that lied about what they were using as tobacco additives. That said, I don't expect there will be any shortage of independent startups.

    • 2 years ago
  • artemis6
  • KSirys
    • 0
      KSirys  

    • I've been to Portland and it's beautiful! but let's talk about the news article!

      wow... already someone with an idea and some balls, that's great to hear for all the pot heads that need a place like this, to socialize and hang out...

      I'm not into pot or any other drug, but if it helps the economy and into a location were they can be supervised, great! Let's do it!!

    • 2 years ago
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