First U.S. marijuana cafe opens for business in Portland

Cancel your flight to Amsterdam – the U.S. just got its first marijuana cafe on Friday. Located in Portland, Ore., the Cannabis Cafe shows how attitudes have changed since the Obama administration moved into the White House. A month ago, President Barack Obama told federal attorneys to ease off medical marijuana prosecutions.

The widening use of medicinal marijuana has forced governments into a tenuous legal balancing act, according to a Reuters report. Some states passed legislation to allow it, starting with California in 1996. Nonetheless, a federal ban remains in place. The operation of businesses like the Cannabis Cafe, as well as marijuana establishments in California, has been possible as long as federal authorities have chosen not to pursue them. Unlike the shops in California, though, the Portland establishment is the first in the U.S. where certified medical marijuana users can both acquire and consume their marijuana, as long as they stay out of public view.

Madeline Martinez, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Oregon, says that the Cannabis Club "represents personal freedom, finally, for our members." NORML supports legislation to legalize marijuana.

"Our plans go beyond serving food and marijuana," Martinez continues. "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 Food is For Sale, but the Pot is Free

The Cannabis Cafe's new home is a two-story building with an interesting past. Once upon a time, it was occupied by a speakeasy, and later, an adult entertainment club called Rumpspankers. The Cannabis Cafe is a private club, but any Oregon resident who is a member of NORML and has an official medical marijuana card can gain entry.

Members pay $25 a month for use of the cafe, which has a capacity of 100. The product offered is not sold. Rather, it's provided free over the counter from the "budtenders" employed by the establishment. Food, of course, is available for purchase, but the club doesn't have a liquor license. (Why bother?)

The potential market for the Cannabis Cafe is small, but likely committed. Approximately 21,000 patients are registered to use medical marijuana in Oregon, with doctors prescribing the drug for a wide range of illnesses, among them Alzheimer's, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Tourette's syndrome.

Eric Solomon, the proprietor, says he still just runs a coffee shop and events venue, as he did before he converted it to the current format, but he says, "now it will be cannabis-themed." Film festivals and dances are expected for the second floor ballroom, not to mentioned marijuana-themed weddings.

Neighboring businesses have mixed feelings about the new cafe, but they are hopeful that it will benefit them, too. David Bell, who works at a nearby boutique, is "withholding judgment." He notes, "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."

This bud's for you......

Hopefully freedom will prevail and ill patients will have many more establishments like these to enjoy their MEDICINE. Hope Obama keeps the Feds at bay. I think though if dip-schitt Republican haters ever resume the office(the GOP should be a far forgotten after-thought) they will swiftly change these laws to continue taking our freedoms. :censored: Republicans. Americans are too forgetful. We need to remember all the :censored: the Criminal Bush administration has forced this country into with their LIES! LET FREEDOM RING!!!:evil:

hmmm my home town time to move back.

lmao looks like a lot of restaurants going to open up around that place hahahaha

grows wild why is not legal, taxes thats why greety gov.

LOL, well I have to admit it's a small step.

First of all , I'd like to say that personally; yes I've used, and did inhale (gasp). But it's been many , many years since I've smoked any of the wacky tabaccy. In fact there are probably quite a few members here that have been born since I last took a puff of the stuff. Why did I stop? Well ... With family comes responsibilities, and most decent jobs in the past few years, require random drug tests, as well a test for a pre hire condition.

But that doesn't mean I'm NOT against some of the laws... But I do feel that medicinal marijuana should HAVE been acceptable from the get go. Certain people can benefit from it, and do, though most illegally. Unfortunately very few people in the U.S. have a federal OK to actually and legally do this. As in a handful, that's it. When many more could benefit from the drug. That to me ,is just a damn shame.


On the other hand, I also would want an air traffic controller directing the traffic while I'm on one of the planes concerned;smoking up the tower with his joint. Or a surgeon getting ready to open me up, taking a toke, and right before I go under from the anesthesia saying " Nurse, roll me another, and is this thingamajig here: (pointing), what I'm suppose to be operating on?" Ummm... no thank you. Certain jobs require the utmost concentration. At least that's the way I see it. But the pothead at your local Wallmar*'s that changes your tires or oil, as long as he doesn't use at work? Let her rip, as long as he proves dependable.. I don't really care if he smokes up a 55 gallon trashbag of the stuff as long he does the job right, and he's on his own personal time....

Also think that the prison systems being flooded with marijuana users and dealers , dealers of the NONviolent nature, is also a shame. Do you realize that there have been murderers and rapists that have done less time than weed dealers(depending on the amount they had on them, with proof that they were distributing?) Users if they have over a certain amount, also can see some considerable time. I'm sorry, but I see no justice in this.

Heck, give me a marijuana user and I could keep them off the streets for a lot less money than the government can. I'll just tell him to stay home... just give them a huge sack full of the stuff, an great big supply of munchies and a Kbox, and problem solved, won't see them for months. Just one more "terror" off the streets. Yeesh.

Wow, lots of designated drivers will be at click of the fingers.
Imaging you get your crappy next neighbor to get his marijuna therapy and you catch launch with it or play pool while session ends, wow , you probably won't complain about taking to long to finish therapy with that secondary smoke you will get for free!!!!

jajajaj

law 141 prohibits to smoke in close spaces, dum, all get out and smoke on the porch now!!!!

jajajajja

can you imaging the bar-b-q, seasoned with spicies that cost $50 bucks a once, i wish little nicky was there.

grows wild why is not legal, taxes thats why greety gov.
Cocaine comes from cocoa plants.
Heroin is derived from poppy plants.

Your argument is baseless- and YES I smoke weed, and have been smoking for the last 21 years. Taxing it would only BENEFIT the government. The real (unspoken) issues I see at this point is What does the government do with all the people presently incarcerated for marijuana use/possession/sale? What do you do with the people that have criminal records based on marijuana offenses? How do you regulate the issue of driving while impaired on marijuana (since there's no current test to determine if a person is actually 'under the influence' at the time of testing)?

Taxing it isn't the issue. Dispensaries in California pay a ton in taxes alone- the government knows Marijuana would be a cash cow for them. It's just the other issues that until are resolved, there's no clear answer for.

Cocaine comes from cocoa plants.
Heroin is derived from poppy plants.

Your argument is baseless- and YES I smoke weed, and have been smoking for the last 21 years. Taxing it would only BENEFIT the government. The real (unspoken) issues I see at this point is What does the government do with all the people presently incarcerated for marijuana use/possession/sale? What do you do with the people that have criminal records based on marijuana offenses? How do you regulate the issue of driving while impaired on marijuana (since there's no current test to determine if a person is actually 'under the influence' at the time of testing)?

Taxing it isn't the issue. Dispensaries in California pay a ton in taxes alone- the government knows Marijuana would be a cash cow for them. It's just the other issues that until are resolved, there's no clear answer for.:thmbup:its not all about taxes its the stuff you have the thiefs take houses cars money,they take more that stuff then what taxes would be ,thank you :v:

:thmbup:its not all about taxes its the stuff you have the thiefs take houses cars money,they take more that stuff then what taxes would be ,thank you :v:
See, but the government can get away with that, there's other laws that state thievery is illegal. But that's a whole other discussion. They can lock them up and have taxpayers happily foot the bill for them since the general consensus is that thievary is "immoral". Whether you or I personally agree or disagree on that statement, others will happily pay the bill (taxes) to put these people away since they believe thieves are a threat to their personal safety. They dont need to take "polls or propositions" that are basically asking the general public whether these people need to be locked away.

On the other hand though, studies and medical journals state that there is scientific proof that marijuana, on the other hand, does indeed have medical benefits. But since laws were passed years ago stating marijuana is illegal (based on false assumptions, eg; "Gateway Drug", it's no so easy anymore to just "throw away" that law, since complications such as I stated in my earlier post state. So nowadays, they post polls (such as Prop 8 or Prop 9 a few years back in Nevada), to determine the initial reactions of voters whether they should repeal the laws or not- since the govt doesn't really "care" either way- either they tax the taxpayers for the detaining of people with marijuana related offenses, or they just tax the dealers- which would likely net them more money, and less animosity and time (time taken to prosecute offenders).

So before they just repeal current laws, which would cause outcry from anti-weed crusaders, they find outwhat the majority of public opinion is, before making any decisions.

Well take care bro, time for me to fire up the vaporizer.. :)

I have been smoking marijuanna since I was 11 years old and I am 36 tomorrow I am not dead and I dont drink or do cocaine or any other hard drugs all I do is smoke weed as I feel it is natures goodness. I do believe the government is headed in the right direction by easing off on the law that prohibites people from possesing and using this drug as I believe that if I didnt start smoking weed I would of probably been diagnosed with ADD or something like that, also my wife has epilepsy and I find when she smokes it it keeps her calm and relaxed therefor causing less seizures and when she is having seizures smoking weed slows them down and does a better job then the medicine she takes. I think the government needs to see how legalizing marijuanna will not only releive some national debts but also will make it possible to make a more cleaner substainable fuel as well as rope, paper, clothing and as I am sure all kinds of things this way the oil companies cannot corner that market and it gives the public more choices. Also you can grow more pot plant in a certain size area and trees will take up way more space. This is a great step for governments to take and I think there would be much less crime related to marijuanna if it was legal just like when prohibition was happening all the criminals were ruling big money business. Anyway this is just my opinion from Canada.

i don't smoke or use drugs i did smoke back in the day,see grows wild can't get tax money off something that god grows in the woods,there is more money taking your house cars.anyway i think it should be legal ,and i'am closer to 70 then 60 and thanks

i hold 3 medical cards here in Ontario.

grows wild why is not legal, taxes thats why greety gov.

incorrect! the product in cali IS taxed and cali is making heaps of revenue on it.also note it is the drug makers who pay the lobbyists to make it stay ILLEGAL! as they would be the ones losing revenue it works on MANY ailments where they can sell you 6 different pills for any one problem oh and then they also have a pill to combat the side effects of the other pills. the other night on 1 of the premium channnels the movie "reefer madness" was aired that movie was the feds tool to keep us from it and formed many views that hold current to this day on it. they showed it to us in H.S. (yes im old) it reminds me of a south park ism "drugz r bad ok?"its hard to belive that it is still illegal here when ollie north, poppy bush, and gang funded the iran/contra thing with illicit profit from STARTING the crack epidemicthen they arrested dealers and users alike and filled thier corporate prisons with inmates so it helped them 2 ways they got the money for WAR and helped thier sleasy pals who owned the private prisons with long term contracts its time to legalize wake up sheeple DEMAND action from everyone who wants your votes