Oregon Starts Sales of Recreational Marijuana

Oregon began sales of recreational marijuana Thursday. Some dispensaries that already sell medical marijuana started selling recreational marijuana shortly after midnight.

Sales are legal for Oregon residents age 21 and older. Originally, sales were expected to start in late 2016. In July, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a law that permits the sale of recreational marijuana in existing medical marijuana dispensaries.

People 21 and older can possess up to eight ounces of marijuana at home and an ounce of marijuana when away from home. According to the legalization measure passed by Oregon voters in November, up to four marijuana plants can be grown per household.

Washington and Colorado experienced shortages and price spikes when recreational marijuana sales started in those states, the Associated Press reports. Oregon dispensary owners say they hope to avoid those problems. Marijuana purchases in the state will be tax-free until January, a savings of up to 20 percent.

Customers can purchase up to seven grams at a time of dried marijuana flower and leaf, plus plants and seeds, the article notes. Currently, marijuana-infused candy, cookies, oils and lotions are available only to people with medical marijuana cards. The state is working on retail rules for those products.

Marijuana is being grown in large indoor warehouses in Portland, and outdoors in southern Oregon.

Alaska has also legalized recreational marijuana, and retail sales could begin there in 2016.