The World Famous Cannabis Cafe opened in

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...

, as the first cafe in the United States for state-authorized

medical marijuana Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana (MMJ), is cannabis and cannabinoids that are prescribed by physicians for their patients. The use of cannabis as medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production and governmental restrictions ...

cardholders. Established in 2009 by

Madeline Martinez Madeline Martinez is an American cannabis rights activist. Career Martinez worked as correctional officer in California, before retiring and focusing on cannabis activism. Cannabis activism Martinez is a longtime advocate for the legalization of ...

, then the Executive Director of

Oregon NORML Oregon NORML is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) affiliate for the U.S. state of Oregon. Description and history The chapter has had up to 3,000 dues-paying members. In 2003, Oregon NORML meetings were held at Mt ...

, the Cannabis Cafe was established as a place for Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cardholders to socialize and safely medicate out of public view as required by state law. Members of the club had to be a current OMMP cardholder and pay an entry fee. The cafe hosted a number of activities, including the annual Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards, which began in 2002. The OMCA was the first medical marijuana strain evaluation competition in the United States, and the only competition to track the medical conditions of the judges and medical effectiveness of the strains relative to specific conditions. The cafe also hosted a monthly (OMMP) Cardholder Meeting where the community of patients, caregivers and growers could stay up to date on legislative requirements and changes. After the Oregon Indoor Clean Air Act was expanded to include marijuana smoking and

vaping An electronic cigarette is an electronic device that simulates tobacco smoking. It consists of an atomizer, a power source such as a battery, and a container such as a cartridge or tank. Instead of smoke, the user inhales vapor. As such ...

, Martinez confirmed that the cafe would close on March 8, 2016.

References

External links

Portland’s Cannabis Cafe is the First Marijuana Coffee Shop of Its Kind in the Country
- video report by ''

Democracy Now! ''Democracy Now!'' is an hour-long American TV, radio, and Internet news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman (who also acts as the show's executive producer), Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. The show, which airs live each weekday at ...

'' 2009 establishments in Oregon 2009 in cannabis 2016 disestablishments in Oregon American companies established in 2009 Cannabis companies of the United States Cannabis in Oregon Cannabis shops Companies disestablished in 2016 Defunct companies based in Oregon Restaurants established in 2009 Restaurants disestablished in 2016 Cannabis dispensaries in the United States {{US-restaurant-stub