First U.S. marijuana cafe opens for business in Portland

[buster2209]

A step towards freedom...... from Obama??

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/...land/#comments

First U.S. marijuana cafe opens for business in Portland

Tom Johansmeyer

Nov 15th 2009 at 10:15AM

Cancel your flight to Amsterdam – the U.S. just got its first marijuana cafe on Friday. Located in Portland, Ore., the Cannabis Cafe shows how attitudes have changed since the Obama administration moved into the White House. A month ago, President Barack Obama told federal attorneys to ease off medical marijuana prosecutions.

The widening use of medicinal marijuana has forced governments into a tenuous legal balancing act, according to a Reuters report. Some states passed legislation to allow it, starting with California in 1996. Nonetheless, a federal ban remains in place. The operation of businesses like the Cannabis Cafe, as well as marijuana establishments in California, has been possible as long as federal authorities have chosen not to pursue them. Unlike the shops in California, though, the Portland establishment is the first in the U.S. where certified medical marijuana users can both acquire and consume their marijuana, as long as they stay out of public view.

Madeline Martinez, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Oregon, says that the Cannabis Club "represents personal freedom, finally, for our members." NORML supports legislation to legalize marijuana.

"Our plans go beyond serving food and marijuana," Martinez continues. "We hope to have classes, seminars, even a Cannabis Community College, based here to help people learn about growing and other uses for cannabis."

The Food is For Sale, but the Pot is Free

The Cannabis Cafe's new home is a two-story building with an interesting past. Once upon a time, it was occupied by a speakeasy, and later, an adult entertainment club called Rumpspankers. The Cannabis Cafe is a private club, but any Oregon resident who is a member of NORML and has an official medical marijuana card can gain entry.

Members pay $25 a month for use of the cafe, which has a capacity of 100. The product offered is not sold. Rather, it's provided free over the counter from the "budtenders" employed by the establishment. Food, of course, is available for purchase, but the club doesn't have a liquor license. (Why bother?)

The potential market for the Cannabis Cafe is small, but likely committed. Approximately 21,000 patients are registered to use medical marijuana in Oregon, with doctors prescribing the drug for a wide range of illnesses, among them Alzheimer's, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Tourette's syndrome.

Eric Solomon, the proprietor, says he still just runs a coffee shop and events venue, as he did before he converted it to the current format, but he says, "now it will be cannabis-themed." Film festivals and dances are expected for the second floor ballroom, not to mentioned marijuana-themed weddings.

Neighboring businesses have mixed feelings about the new cafe, but they are hopeful that it will benefit them, too. David Bell, who works at a nearby boutique, is "withholding judgment." He notes, "There's no precedent for it. We don't know what to expect. But it would great if it brought some customers into our store."

Whatever your stance is on marijuana, this is definitely a move towards freedom

[mojo]

A step towards freedom...... from Obama??

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/...land/#comments



Whatever your stance is on marijuana, this is definitely a move towards freedom

Yes it is ... and I believe will greatly help any issues with all the recent FFA laws being passed in some states in the future.

[knight0334]

Yes it is ... and I believe will greatly help any issues with all the recent FFA laws being passed in some states in the future.

Anyone else make the connection in your heads after seeing "FFA"? ....Future Farmers of America - marijuana - farmers - weeds - crops.

....ah, never mind. Back to work, nothing to see here..

{mumbles} Cops, come and try to snatch my crops... insane in da membrane..

[Exbiker]

Now I have to get out mapquest and check my driving time.

[bogey1]

the key word is "private" with all of the smoking bans going on, where would you be able to smoke the stuff?

[NikeBauer21]

In all honesty, I don't think it has anything to do with giving people freedoms.. I think it has everything to do with making money. If they see an opportunity, no matter how corrupt or wrong these days, they will do it.

I'm not saying what my stance is on this particular issue, since my feelings are mixed... But I just think they could give a shit less about American's freedoms, and have greed written all over their faces.

[Spishack357]

I like the idea but I can't help but see it as pandering to some of his voter base...Were obamas intentions truly for the cause of freedom then I would commend him but I'm sure that isn't the case...

Fuck you barack...

[CarolinaGuy]

In all honesty, I don't think it has anything to do with giving people freedoms.. I think it has everything to do with making money. If they see an opportunity, no matter how corrupt or wrong these days, they will do it.

I'm not saying what my stance is on this particular issue, since my feelings are mixed... But I just think they could give a shit less about American's freedoms, and have greed written all over their faces.

If that was the case, the prison system makes far more money than some herb bar in Oregon. If it is money they seek, they would simply keep it illegal.

I can see this as nothing but a step in the right direction.

[Guns4Fun]

Meh legalize pot but take over banks, business, cap and tax, immigration (amnesty) and cramming health care down our throats.

Maybe zero is hoping we'll all be too stoned to notice.

[Falcon118]

Meh legalize pot but take over banks, business, cap and tax, immigration (amnesty) and cramming health care down our throats.

Maybe zero is hoping we'll all be too stoned to notice.

^^^^THIS Rep sent