Marijuana plants displayed at Oregon State Fair
ities are only allowing immature plants — that is, pot plants without flowers.
Marijuana leaves are much less potent then the flowers, or buds, and it’s not yet legal to transport flowering plants within the state.
Donald Morse, director of the Oregon Cannabis Business Council, said his group hopes to get permission to display flowering pot plants next year, but the details aren’t finalized.
The exhibit is in a translucent tent and both the entrance and exit are monitored. Anyone entering must present identification proving they are age 21 and over.
The way people think about marijuana in Oregon is changing and recreational grow sites are recognized under state law as farm crops.
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is in the process of licensing recreational marijuana in much the same way it already controls the sale and use of alcohol.
Oregon State Fair spokesman Dan Cox says the fair must adapt to changing cultural and societal values and allowing the display is one part of that shift.
Oregonians voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014 and the state allowed the sale of marijuana “edibles,” such as pot-infused candies and confections, earlier this year.
This week, the state said it had processed $25.5 million in taxes on recreational marijuana so far this year.
Anticipated state revenue from recreational marijuana through June 2017 was recently quadrupled by Oregon’s Legislative Revenue Office, from $8.4 million to $35 million.
Recreational marijuana remains illegal in 46 states and is banned by the federal government.