The campaign to permit marijuana social lounges in Oregon has already cleared a major hurdle on the way to its 2026 ballot. Organizers announced that they had collected enough signatures from voters to move the measure forward to the next phase of the process.
The Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition (OCCC)—a Portland-based group that advocates for the legalization of smoking lounges and cafes where consumption of infused edibles is permitted—says its now collected more than 1,400 signatures, which will be submitted to state elections officials.
The organizers must provide at least 1,000 validated voter signatures to the state in order to have them prepare a title for the ballot and a summary of their proposal. The campaign can then move to its main signature collection effort, which is to collect approximately 120,000 signatures from voters to qualify for the general election ballot in November 2026.
Justyce Seith told MEDCAN24, “I have copies of all signatures. We are going to Salem, where they’ll verify if these signatures are genuine and meet minimum requirements of signatures.”
She added that “if signatures are accepted,” they will draft the title of this initiative, and we will then begin the journey to gather the necessary amount signatures for our next round!
Seith explained that the immediate objective of this campaign is to raise money to pay for billboard advertising, professional petitioners and web design.
She also wants to reach out to individuals and companies who could help with the organizing of events for the campaign, or host them.
She said that she needed help more than ever, and encouraged supporters to email the organizers or visit their campaign website. It would be wonderful if anyone was willing to donate money or resources. “I am only one woman who is trying to do something.”
Seith initially filed the initiative petition in April, a little more than a month after submitting a separate, similar proposal that would legalize cannabis cafes. On Wednesday, she clarified that this initiative is what the campaign intends to present to voters.
The initiative would regulate and legalize state-licensed lounges for cannabis consumption, providing what it describes as a “safe, legal environment” where adults can consume cannabis in accordance with the state laws.
The petition states that “these lounges will be operated in a way to ensure public safety and health, as well as providing adults who use cannabis with a designated area for cannabis consumption in a social setting, while allowing food and drinks without any medication, sale, or consumption.”
The law specifies that only small businesses, also known as microbusinesses in California, are eligible to apply for a cannabis social lounge licence.
Under the proposal, cannabis social lounges could allow adults 21 and older to consume cannabis and sell “unmedicated food and beverages,” but they could not “sell, distribute, or provide cannabis for sale on the premises” of the business.
According to the proposed legislation, marijuana use “must be restricted” to the smoking of cannabis, the vaping of it, or the eating of its non-edible forms.
Alcohol and tobacco—including nicotine vape products—would be strictly prohibited at the businesses. The businesses would need to shut down by 2am.
The local government has not yet stated whether it will prohibit such establishments. In the petition, it is stated that local governments can “regulate” or restrict cannabis social lounges. However, outright prohibitions are not addressed. The local governments will also have the ability to inspect these lounges in order to verify compliance with both state and municipal law.
New businesses would be supervised by regulators at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. It outlines the application process and basic penalties for lounges. For example, it states that any violation of any provision in the act can result in fines, suspensions or revocations. The petition also states that the operation of an unlicensed lounge may result in civil or criminal penalties.
As for public education, lounges would be required to post “signs or other visual aids…to inform patrons about the risks of cannabis consumption and the lounge’s operating rules,” the proposal says.
OLCC also worked with public health officials “to provide educational material and outreach programs that ensure Oregon residents are aware of the rules and regulations governing cannabis consumption lounges.”
This measure will appear on the ballot in Oregon for November 2026. It would become effective on January 1, 2020 if it is approved.
Separately in Oregon, state officials earlier this month notified a federal appeals court that they are challenging a lower judge’s ruling striking down a voter-approved law that required licensed marijuana businesses to enter into labor peace agreements with workers and mandated that employers remain neutral in discussions around unionization.
The court has not yet released details of the appeal, but it gave the state until September 3, to submit an opening brief. Plaintiffs have until October 3rd, 2010 to file their reply brief.
A marijuana business that could not provide proof of an agreement on labor peace would have faced a refusal or loss of license.
In the meantime, a federal lawsuit in Oregon, currently ongoing, could give legal access to more people. The plaintiffs argue that Oregon’s first ever psilocybin laws prevent homebound patients seeking medical attention.
In a 12-page ruling released late last year, District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai refused the state’s request to dismiss the lawsuit, opining the plaintiffs’ standing to file the challenge, and that a modified state psilocybin statute to provide a reasonably accommodation for homebound patient under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) wouldn’t violate federalism principles.
The ruling stated that “The Court concurs with Plaintiffs, and finds their requested remedy to be physical access as opposed to use or distribution in violation of federal and state laws.”
The state governor also signed a law last month that allowed marijuana companies to provide samples of their product at trade events. It removed restrictions on wholesale cannabis transactions at such gatherings.
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