The 4th of July is right around the corner, but tomorrow Oregon residents will celebrate their independence a bit early, only it has more to do with pungent green than patriotic red, white, and blue. July 1 marks the date that Oregon's recreational cannabis laws go into effect, and while the state doesn't have any retail stores up and running yet, the Portland chapter of NORML isn't planning to let a lack of retail locations damper celebrations.
If you're in the Portland area and head to the west side of the Burnside Bridge at 11:30 pm tonight, you'll receive a very special treat once the clock strikes midnight. Adults ages 21+ with a valid ID will be gifted with dried cannabis and seeds for the low low price of absolutely free.
That's right, you can celebrate Oregon officially joining the Legal Cannabis States Club by receiving free cannabis from NORML, who will be onsite to educate the public about safe, responsible cannabis use. For those of you whose minds have just been blown by this bit of news, keep in mind that under Oregon's new recreational marijuana laws, it will be legal to share or give away recreational cannabis (although you can't buy or sell it until licensed retail shops open).
Congratulations, Oregon! You may not allow people to pump their own gas, but you're letting them legally possess up to eight ounces of cannabis in their home (one ounce outside the home), which is a pretty good trade off, if you ask me.
