Portland will soon have 2 medical-marijuana smoking lounges

[godskitchen]

November 03, 2009, 4:17PM
As of next week, Oregon's medical-marijuana patients will have two smoke-easies in Portland to medicate and socialize, the first such places in the country to open since the federal government announced two weeks ago that it will no longer arrest or prosecute patients and suppliers.

On Nov. 13, the Cannabis Cafe will open on the first floor of 700 N.E. Dekum St., to be operated by the state's chapter of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Executive Director Madeline Martinez said the space has been a dream of hers for years.

"We're pretty danged excited about it," Martinez said.

The Cannabis Cafe will be the second public place for medical-marijuana patients to get together. On Oct. 1, Steve Geiger opened Highway 420, a small lounge at the back of his pipe shop at 6418 S.E. Foster Road.

The pot lounges are the first of their kind in the nation, said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the national NORML. California has dispensaries, where medical marijuana can be purchased, but only Oregon will have a place, like a bar, where people can socialize and use marijuana.

The Cannabis Cafe will open Nov. 13 at 4:20 p.m. – a cheeky reference to a code term for marijuana. Then the cafe will operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. To enter, a person must be a member of Oregon NORML and hold a card from the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program as a patient, caregiver or grower.


By Anne Saker, The Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/i...ve_2_smok.html

 

[slimvictor]

I love it!
Now to open them to all adults who desire to use marijuana recreationally.

FREEDOM OF CONSCIOUSNESS!

 

[Hendrix Haze15]

Portland isn't the first to do this. There is a hash bar in Los Angeles which not too many people know about.

 

[PinkStrawberries]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! ;D

 

[Huaca]

SE Hawthorne St would have been a logical choice location.

 

[drug_mentor]

Thats pretty rad, wonder how long it will last though.

 

[AllOverItPDX]

Highway 420 is on SE Hawthorne but I haven't personally been there yet....

 

[jspun]

Halleluja, Jubilee! Praise the Lord. This is another victory in the great historic battle against tyrany that the war on drugs represents. Make no mistake, these changes didn't come about because some sensible, pragmatic, compassionate administration decided to adopt a progresive attitude towards cannabis policies. The real heros are the patriotic Americans who put their freedom on the line so that fundamental American principles wouldn't end up on the ash heap of history. And I'm not just talking portland but this is a battle stretching back who's first significant victory was Alaska in 1975- a resistance against the errosions of American values, principles, and freedoms. Against drug prohibition- a bowel movement that has soiled hard won freedoms and principles this country was founded on and taken away "inalenable rights" turning the Bill Of Rights into a piece of toilet paper. I hope that we don't have to wait 49 years for the next ultimate jubilee. The end of all drug prohibition in The United States of America and its Territories.

ps: Trivia question that I wanted to share for another forum (havent decided which one ) is the first place under US Jurisdiction where cannabis was first decriminalized. Kinda a trick question. But Alaska was the first of the 50 states.

 

[poledriver]

hmm thats good news. I have been hearing bits a pieces about more and more legal pot shops for 'medicinal' purposes, mainly in the news, and seems to be mainly in the USA. Has this got to do with no more Bush? I hope so, cos here in Australia we have no more John Howard and i'm hoping these places start to open here. I know quite a few people with very serious illness's and diseases who prefer pot than alot of the chemical pharmaceuticals that alot of doctors seem all too willing to prescribe.

 

[Huaca]

Highway 420 is on SE Hawthorne but I haven't personally been there yet....

Hawthorne is miles from Foster Rd. I was thinking of the area of Hawthorne from 39th maybe down to 28th. It's kind of a hippie, new-age, counter culture area of small stores and coffee shops [at least it was 10 years ago].

Anyway, it's not fair that some citizens get to enjoy a legal toke while other people will still be hassled by the cops.

 

[Delsyd]

When will the rest of the country finally catch up?

 

[panic in paradise]

Anyway, it's not fair that some citizens get to enjoy a legal toke while other people will still be hassled by the cops.

we dont get hassled by the cops usually, and i wish it was more understood and legalized, but in my experience its worth it the long run to not have a neeed to have a MMJ recommendation.