So here is a story, published last Friday in The Oregonian, about a pot artist named Greenhand who rolls large, imaginative joints. These joints take every shape from super hero to watermelon, and are apparently fully smokable. Some of the joints are hefty and cost upwards of $10,000. One weighs 4.2 pounds.
The Greenhand story is a fun, breezy profile, but it fails to mention a piece of information that seems sort of important: under Oregon law, Greenhand, like everyone else, is allowed a maximum of eight ounces of usable marijuana in his home, and to carry up to oneounce in public. Possession of the watermelon joint, for example, would be a Class A misdemeanor under ORS 475B.315and wouldcome with up to a year in prison and a $6,250 fine. And selling the joints with no license is a whole other issue.
The Oregonian styles itself as a major daily newspaper, and it has won its share of awards. Though a favorite pastime of many Oregonians is criticizing the newspaper, The Oregonian remains the statewide standard for formal, daily news. Yet, the Greenhand profile opens by advising the reader that she can pick up a joint at local weed stores or get a hold of Tony Greenhand who will roll you something that costs upwards of $10,000. The story implies that either option is permissible, and the only question is cost. In all, it reads like piecefrom industry rags likeHigh Times or Dope.
When marijuana became fully legal in Oregon, the early reportage focused on rules, policy and program structure. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) launched its Whats Legal campaign, designed to apprise Oregonians about changes in the law. Once the rules were established ...
