Oregon Legislation approves cannabis exports

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The bill only has to be signed by the governor to be made law

A bill designed to alleviate Oregon’s cannabis surplus has successfully made its way through the legislative maze. The House approved the bill yesterday, after it made it through the Senate last month. The next stop is Governor Kate Brown’s desk for her signature.

The bill was approved by the House, 42-17. It would allow Oregon to export cannabis to neighboring states that have legalized cannabis, as well as international destinations, but still has one huge hurdle in front of it. Exports could only happen if federal cannabis laws change, since interstate transport of marijuana products – even if only taking place between two connecting legal states – is still illegal.

According to Oregon Senator Floyd Prozanki, who sponsored the bill, “This is a very strong statement by the Oregon Legislature, and one that will reverberate across the country. The future of this industry is that cannabis will primarily be grown where it grows best, and most efficiently, and most sustainably. That’s what functioning legal markets do.”

States that could participate in the program would have to have legal cannabis laws and must border Oregon. This means that California, Washington and Nevada could receive Oregon supplies, but Idaho, which hasn’t yet legalized cannabis, would be off-limits.

Oregon has always been at the forefront of cannabis reform, and this bill is no different. As Representative Carl Wilson states, “Cannabis policy is rapidly evolving in the United States; the federal stance toward marijuana could change quickly, with congressional action or something as simple as a memo from Dept. of Justice. In this arena, Oregon has a competitive advantage on the nation and the world.”