Just don't go microwavin' the kids!

First U.S. marijuana cafe opens for business in Portland
Tom Johansmeyer
Nov 15th 2009 at 10:15AMText SizeAAAFiled under: Healthcare
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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."

yep i seen that

is it not great

finally a bit of liberation in this country rather than oppression

just a thought

but hey what do i know

Finally, something of use to the american people. I"m sure you won't see anyone leave that cafe and driving home and killing someone. Unlike people leaving a bar full of drunks.

It's about time....

Interesting,,,,good for the new administration and those who seek relief from their pain,,,,

incremental progress

one day at a time and then one day...

They should just do what they did here in Seattle, and by law (and vote) make it still technically illegal, but make the enforcement of pot laws the lowest priority crime. So that a cop has to ticket a jay-walker before he can ask someone with a joint to put it out. Only pass a similar law in every local area.

the thing is that the "they" are the governments of each individual state. So there won't be a uniform standard applied for eveyone. It'll just depend on where you live

Small? The only legal place to get cannabis in the USA and the market is small?

its a long way to Seattle

Mexico is closer and I can get tequila in the marijuana cafe there...

or was that marijuana in the tequila cafe

but I have to confess I would feel more comfy getting it from Seattle and smoking domestic grown rather than getting the Meskin stuff and supporting all that narco-terrorism thats slowly creeping up into the the States

There have been cafes opened up in Britain before now, but none of them lasted long(in most cases, just minutes). I believe in the cases here they were mainly opened by activists challenging the laws rather than by businesses with any legitimate authorisation.

I heard the stuff down south is mo potent. They still use DDT.

Yall talkin' bout my town?We dont need no stinkin cafe to get our smoke on.Last week it was a sex club called "rumpshakers",it will probably be a Wendy's in a month or two.

I spent a great deal of time in Portland and it seems like a great place for all the scum from California and all the scum from Washington to come to mingle.The younger people who live in Portland have absolutely no respect for the law and you will find lot of politically active anarchist there.People there were having orgasms when Obama was elected and to say it is home to left wing liberals is a understatement.



Give it a year or two and Portland will look like Detroit.

You are way way off...they are poser-liberals.The young people you refer to are street kids which we've always had a problem with.But seriously, consider a lobotomy.

Hardly.The city lets those idiots do what ever they want.How many times have I read how the Critical mass bike Nazis take over the town while the police sit there twiddling their thumbs.Portland has long been a safe haven to the enviromental extremist.How many times have I been in Portland to see a bunch of extremist blocking the roads saying how awful the United states is and how people should kill themselves to save the planet.You will find more lunatic,anti American,anti Religion,anti everything nut jobs in Portland than you will find anywhere else.Even if you get away from Portland you have good ol Eugene right down the road headquarters for the Skinhead causes.Portland needs a lobotomy and a enema because it is full to the brim of human waste.

I agree with you about Eugene,but everything else you said is from the 90's.Seriously,they only say liberal,a lot of conservatives here.

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

go scum!!

Coservatives in Portland???Thats a hot one.However I have found you get 30 miles out of Portland and it is mostly Conservative towns.I found Salem to be a very friendly Conservite town.All along the West coast you don't hear all the liberal BS you find in Portland.All along the Columbia river in towns like The Dalles,Hermiston,Cascade locks all seem to be Conservative until you get to Baker city.I did find that the closer you get to California the more Liberal that state gets.