Smoke pot in Oregon? Your name now protected from feds.
Smoke pot in Oregon? Your name now protected from feds
By Anna Marum | The Oregonian/OregonLive | April 17, 2017
Oregonians who worry about a federal crackdown on legal marijuana use now have an extra layer of protection: Gov. Kate Brown on Monday signed a bill that prohibits the state's marijuana retailers from sharing or keeping information about their customers' identities or purchases.
Senate Bill 863, which drew broad bipartisan support, flew through the Legislature and is one of the first bills to be signed by the governor this session.
"I think it's appropriate under the circumstances," Brown said after signing it.
She fears the Trump administration could make good on its threat of a "higher level of federal engagement" when it comes to legalized pot, she said.
The bill's signing comes after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in January that he couldn't promise to continue to ignore federal laws prohibiting marijuana use, and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer suggested in February that states will be subject to "greater enforcement" of those laws.
In March, Brown said she was willing to "go to bat" for Oregon's burgeoning pot industry and that she would "respond appropriately" should the White House take any action.
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