Oregon activists have halted their effort to place a measure on the 2026 ballot that would have legalized marijuana social lounges across the state. The Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition confirmed that it has withdrawn the proposal after months of preliminary work, including filing two variations of the measure.
Justyce Seith, founder of the coalition and chief petitioner, said the decision was not taken lightly. She noted that the campaign’s timeline and signature-gathering goals no longer aligned with the resources available. According to Seith, attention will now shift to developing a better version of the proposal for a future ballot cycle.
Seith thanked volunteers who helped the campaign reach several early milestones. Their work drew enough support to confirm, in her view, that public spaces for marijuana use remain an important issue for many residents.
The state attorney general approved a verified ballot title for the initiative in September. That approval followed the release of an initial proposal in August. Only one public comment was submitted in response to the draft. The commenter argued that the word “lounges” lacked clarity and suggested using “business establishments” instead.
State officials reviewed the suggestion and declined to modify the title. The individual could have sought review by the Oregon Supreme Court, but did not pursue that option.
To qualify for the ballot, OCCC would have been required to gather at least 117,000 valid signatures from registered voters.
The proposal would have allowed state-licensed marijuana social lounges to open and operate under specific rules. These locations would have provided adults with a place to consume marijuana while also offering unmedicated beverages and food, but no cannabis sales could take place inside the premises.
Consumption would have been limited to vaping, smoking, and the use of non-edibles. Nicotine products, tobacco, and alcohol would have been banned.
Local governments would have been permitted to set limits on the number of lounges and adopt additional rules. They also would have had the authority to inspect businesses for compliance. Oversight at the state level would have been handled by the OLCC, which would have reviewed license applications and enforced penalties that could include license suspension and/or fines.
The proposal also called for clear public education requirements, including signage explaining health risks and operational rules. The commission would have worked with health agencies to develop outreach materials.
If approved, the measure would have taken effect at the start of 2027. Marijuana companies like Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) that have participated in efforts to reform cannabis laws in other jurisdictions sympathize with the Oregon campaigners because it is a very expensive and back-breaking undertaking to push a ballot measure through the preliminary steps and then oversee campaigns to get the measure approved by voters.
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