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We don't yet know what Oregon's market for legal weed will look like, but we do know it will be very different than the medical system. For the past 15 years, Oregon's Medical Marijuana Program has operated off a measly 30 pages or so of regulations found in HB 3460. The wild free market has been regulated by the patients more than anyone else. It's been an interesting era.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
When you enter a typical Washington rec shop, you're handed a multipage menu of products and expected to know what you're looking for. Once you place your order, the transaction is complete and you're out the door.
On the other hand, you're greeted by name when you enter a medical dispensary in Oregon. Employees inquire what you thought about the last strain you tried, and want to hear about your triumphs and tribulations. Knowledgeable budtenders will patiently talk you through every product in the case. If you're new to the modern world of weed, some dispensary owners will take the time to sit down and explain different products and effects. You are a patient, not a customer, and many shops make a huge effort to connect with people on a more intimate level, even sending out handwritten Christmas cards with coupons for a free joint. Most importantly, the mere fact that they aren't yet required to preweigh their buds leaves room for the possibility of a homie discount, which will go extinct with seed-to-sale tracking.
UNLIMITED ACCESS TO PRODUCT
The Oregon Health Authority doesn't care if a dispensary provides concentrates with 92 percent THC, or a brownie packed with 150 mg of THC. But the Oregon Liquor Control Commission definitely does. The early sales period in October would allow the general public to purchase from dispensaries, but only flower. No oil, no edibles, no vape pens. Now is the time to explore Oregon's tastiest, most potent and effective marijuana products, because once the OLCC starts regulating dispensaries, the menu will slim down for all of us.
YES, YOU HAVE A QUALIFYING MEDICAL CONDITION
I am a fit 24-year-old, but my flat feet, nightly tooth grinding or early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome are qualifying symptoms of severe pain. As long as you have physical pain of some kind, a medical card clinic is happy to help you collect the documents you'll need to prove whatever condition. These doctors sign your paperwork for a fee, which can get expensive alongside the $200 for patient registration. At least know that if you wake up early enough on Black Friday this year, you'll see discounts of that magnitude before 10 am.
I'd criticize these weed doctors for such a costly five-minute meeting, but, like weed writers who encourage the exploitation of a medical program, they're ultimately trying to help good people get the most out of the situation before things get more complicated.
WWeek 2015