Oregon Activists File Second Ballot Proposal To Legalize Social Cannabis Consumption Businesses

A Portland resident has filed a second prospective Oregon ballot measure aimed at legalizing social consumption areas for marijuana, introducing it little more than a month after submitting a similar proposal that would legalize cannabis cafes.

The most recent petition, titled the Oregon Cannabis Social Lounge Act, is longer and more fleshed-out than the earlier proposed measure. At its core, though, it would similarly legalize state-licensed cannabis consumption lounges in the state, offering what the proposal describes as “a safe, legal environment for adults to consume cannabis” in compliance with state law.

“These lounges will operate in a manner that ensures public health and safety, while providing adult-use cannabis consumers with a designated space to enjoy cannabis in social settings, and allowing the sale and consumption of unmedicated food and beverages,” the new petition’s purpose section says.

Compared to the earlier measure, the new proposal includes more specific details on licensing, operational restrictions and public education. It also specifies that cannabis social lounge licenses would be available only to small cannabis business licensees, known as microbusinesses.

Justyce Seith, the chief petitioner on both proposals, is the founder of 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.

Seith didn’t immediately respond to questions from Marijuana Moment, such as whether the more recently proposed ballot initiative is intended to be a replacement of the earlier one or if activists have yet to decide which version to pursue.

On social media, OCCC highlighted the newer proposal’s different terminology for social consumption and its focus on microbusinesses.

“This provides easier wording for individuals who disagree with ‘Cannabis Cafes,'” the group said, “and allows smaller businesses a better chance at being able to create and afford these lounges.”

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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.

Consumption of marijuana “must be limited to smoking, vaping, and the consumption of non-edible products,” the proposal says.

Alcohol and tobacco—including nicotine vape products—would be strictly prohibited at the businesses. They would also need to close by 2 a.m.

It’s unclear whether local governments could prohibit the establishments. The petition says they could “regulate the number of cannabis social lounges” and set further restrictions, but it doesn’t address outright bans. Local governments would also be able to inspect the lounges to ensure compliance with state and local law.

Regulators at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) would oversee the new businesses. The petition outlines a license application process for lounges as well as basic penalties, noting, for example, that violations of any provisions in the act may result in fines and/or license suspension or revocation. It also says unlicensed operation of a lounge could carry civil and 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 would also work with public health authorities ” to provide educational materials and outreach programs to ensure that Oregon residents understand the purpose and rules governing cannabis consumption lounges.”

In comments to Marijuana Moment in February, after the introduction of the first ballot proposal, Seith said organizers were planning events to build support for the ballot push.

“We will be hosting local events to gain recognition and raise awareness for the initiative,” she said at the time. “So stay tuned!”

The new measure would appear on Oregon’s November 2026 ballot. If approved, it would take effect January 1, 2027.

Initially, the campaign will need to collect 1,000 signatures to receive a ballot title from state officials. After that, organizers will need to collect a total of 120,413 valid signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.

Meanwhile in Oregon, the secretary of state last month officially withdrew his office’s audit of OLCC.

“My team and I concluded that the selection of the audit, the framework for the audit, and potential predetermination of its conclusions imperiled the audit from the outset,” Secretary of State Tobias Read (D) wrote.

Former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan (D) resigned in 2023 following media revelations she’d taken a lucrative consulting gig for the cannabis company La Mota while her office conducted the OLCC review.

Separately, Oregon marijuana businesses recently sued the state seeking to block the implementation of a voter-approved law mandating that cannabis licensees enter into labor peace agreements with workers.

Read the new petition for the Oregon Cannabis Social Lounge Act:

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Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.