Oregon helped pioneer medical cannabis in the U.S. and was among the first states to legalize adult-use cannabis. Scroll down for news about the state’s latest cannabis policy and business happenings and to browse our Q&A and podcast interviews featuring Oregon-based cannabis business owners.
Fri / May 23rd
Oregon lawmakers have passed a bill allowing cannabis companies to conduct wholesale transactions and offer “trade samples” to other licensees at cannabis industry trade shows.
Thu / May 22nd
A federal judge has ruled that the voter-approved measure requiring Oregon cannabis businesses to set up labor agreements with their workers violates the business owners’ First Amendment rights.
Wed / Feb 19th
The Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition submitted a petition to put an initiative legalizing cannabis cafes in the state on November 2026 ballots.
Mon / Feb 3rd
Cannabis prices in Oregon are at an all-time low as the state continues to set new cannabis harvest records each year.
Wed / Jan 15th
A man who is an admitted cannabis novice is suing the Arcanna dispensary in Portland, Oregon after he purchased a THC-infused syrup from the shop that landed him in the emergency room after experiencing excessive vomiting and loss of motor control.
Tue / Dec 3rd PRESS RELEASE
Central Point, Oregon – HempNova LifeTech, a vertically integrated state-licensed hemp company based in Oregon, celebrates its 2024 Hemp Flower… Read More
Fri / Nov 8th
Oregon voted to secure cannabis workers’ right to join unions with the state’s Measure 119 drawing 55% voter support on Tuesday.
Fri / Oct 11th
A dispensary employee was charged with murder after a deadly shooting during an armed robbery in North Portland, highlighting the ongoing risks cannabis industry workers face due to primarily cash-only retail operations.
Mon / Oct 7th
Activists in Portland, Oregon are planning to pursue a ballot initiative in 2026 to decriminalize natural psychedelics including psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca after lawmakers this year voted to undo the state’s voter-approved drug decriminalization policy.
Mon / Sep 23rd
The Global Hemp Innovation Center at Oregon State University recently received $5.5 million from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to fund research into hemp-based foods, beverages, and other industrial uses for the plant.
Wed / Aug 7th
Oregon voters will decide this November whether cannabis industry workers should be allowed to unionize after lawmakers failed to adopt the reforms during the legislative session.
Wed / Jun 19th
The Portland Pickles, an Oregon-based baseball team in the West Coast League, is set to become the first pro sports team in the U.S. to sell THC-infused beverages at their games.
Fri / May 10th
The publicly traded and internationally licensed cannabis company Kaya Holdings Inc. announced this week that it has received a license to administer therapeutic psilocybin products in Oregon.
Wed / Apr 3rd
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed a bill to recriminalize the possession of certain drugs in the state, undoing key provisions of the state’s voter-approved decriminalization bill that took effect three years ago.
Thu / Mar 14th
The Oregon Legislature recently passed a bill to cap the number of cannabis licenses in response to market oversaturation, setting limits based on the state’s population and introducing measures for inter-agency cooperation and enforcement in the cannabis and industrial hemp sectors.
Tue / Mar 12th
Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center received a $10 million USDA grant to collaborate with 13 Native American tribes on hemp economic development, aiming to create sustainable supply chains and enhance the hemp industry’s role in tribal and rural American economies.
Mon / Mar 4th
Oregon is poised to end its landmark drug decriminalization initiative as lawmakers pass a bill to reintroduce criminal penalties for certain drug possessions, sparking debate over the measure’s impact on treatment access and the justice system.
Wed / Feb 28th
Oregon’s legal cannabis market experienced a downturn for the second consecutive year in 2023, with sales dropping to $955 million from a peak of $1.2 billion in 2021, amid challenges of oversupply and stagnant retail prices.
Fri / Feb 9th
Idaho legislators are considering a bill to ban advertising for illegal products, inspired by billboards promoting out-of-state cannabis, aiming to impose misdemeanor charges for such advertisements.
Fri / Jan 26th
The Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon is urging lawmakers to extend a moratorium on new cannabis company licenses, initially set to expire in April, to address the oversupply and market competition issues in Oregon’s cannabis industry.
Fri / Jan 19th
Oregon lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties have recently begun exploring different ways to roll back drug decriminalization in the state, amid criticism from advocacy groups.
Thu / Nov 2nd
Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), a 27-year veteran of Congress and founding member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, announced this week that he will not seek reelection.
Tue / Oct 24th
The Oregon Cannabis Association and the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon are merging into a new organization called the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon, which represents more than 500 members.
Tue / Oct 17th
A Utah-based start-up recently applied to sell insurance in Oregon that would cover the cost of defending a DUI for driving under the influence of cannabis.
Website & branding by the Ganjapreneur in-house agency:
Uplifted cannabis industry branding & marketing.