Will Portland harsh Washington's RMJ mellow? (Vancouver: sales, appliances, home)

[abqpsychlist]

Hello!

I'm curious to see how the transition to recreational marijuana sales will go in Washington compared to Colorado, and one thing that came to mind right away was how Portland could affect the process. Colorado is relatively isolated, so that probably helps deter out of state trafficking, but Washington has a pretty big city right on its border with its fair share of regular MJ users.

Will this present a problem with the feds, since there is a high probability of Portlanders taking their purchases home? Or will the decriminalized status of MJ in Oregon allow for interstate commerce to take place?

I know the state is trying to tread carefully regarding RMJ sales, but could this present a problem?

[Votre_Chef]

Originally Posted by abqpsychlist

Hello!

I'm curious to see how the transition to recreational marijuana sales will go in Washington compared to Colorado, and one thing that came to mind right away was how Portland could affect the process. Colorado is relatively isolated, so that probably helps deter out of state trafficking, but Washington has a pretty big city right on its border with its fair share of regular MJ users.

Will this present a problem with the feds, since there is a high probability of Portlanders taking their purchases home? Or will the decriminalized status of MJ in Oregon allow for interstate commerce to take place?

I know the state is trying to tread carefully regarding RMJ sales, but could this present a problem?

Personally, I think it'll depend on how Oregon wants to handle it. If it makes the government of Oregon upset that Portlanders will be driving to Vancouver to buy their marijuana they could very well demand something be done about it and the federal government may be forced to step in in some way even if it's just to mediate. In my opinion though, I don't think the Oregon state government will make a big deal about it UNLESS there's suddenly a rise in marijuana-related traffic accidents on I-5 and 205 caused by Portland-bound stoners. My guess is that Portland mj users will be smarter than that, they probably just want to buy their stuff and go home and then smoke so there probably won't be any major problems so the Oregon State government probably won't make much of a fuss about it.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Oregon will watch how WA handles this, and in the next year or two Oregon will follow suit.
Oregon will let WA do all the work and make the mistakes, then they will follow along.
Too much tax revenue is at stake.

I really don't think Oregon will do much if anything at all.

[Hemlock140]

People near the borders in both states are very much aware of the proximity and take good advantage of it. Many living in WA buy appliances, electronics and other high-priced items in Portland where there is no income tax. Last time WA raised their already high cigarette taxes, someone just across the border in Oregon opened a drive-up tobacco shop that has lines at it all day. So far it appears that cities in WA are trying to have their own bans on pot shops. Whether or not that is allowed by the state we don't know yet. I'd guess they won't, because the taxes are too big a cash cow for the state, and they will lose money if some cities are not selling it. I'd expect any border shops in Vancouver WA to sell out often and have to close until they get more inventory.
Maybe that will make some money for Oregon too if the new bridge is ever built and is tolled. Without the new bridge, pot sales in Vancouver could severely impact cross-border traffic.

[Ira500]

I think Oregon is likely to join CO and WA in legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I think Oregon is likely to join CO and WA in legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

Oh, yeah... whatever WA does, OR does... Whatever OR does, WA does (CARB . legal suicide).

We are very much Me-Too states., just so we can become like CA . (please bring us Prop 13!!!)

MMJ is legal in OR, and very popular, so nothing is stopping RMJ from coming to pass there.

Maybe OSP will start the some practice of WSP ... Photographing License Plates of OOS cars departing and running the numbers through the state data base. Maybe OR will also use the WA 'Bounty' program of squealing on your neighbors.

[bler144]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I think Oregon is likely to join CO and WA in legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

I agree with that. The 2012 ballot measure in my opinion failed largely for two reasons:

1) it wasn't a great bill as written, which couldn't win over people on the fence, and there was a lot of harrumphing about going head to head with the feds. Which...at least now seems to be a non-issue

2) almost no money was spent supporting it, unlike CO or particularly WA (close to $6mil). I think the pro side in OR spent somewhere in the mid 6 figures.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Oh, yeah... whatever WA does, OR does... Whatever OR does, WA does (CARB . legal suicide).

We are very much Me-Too states., just so we can become like CA . (please bring us Prop 13!!!)

Was going to post something exactly along these lines, but you beat me to it.