by Natalie Fertig
WASHINGTON — Oregon’s famous oversupply of cannabis has finally generated a federal solution. Or at least an attempt at one.
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D) teamed up today to introduce a bill that would allow Oregon growers to ship cannabis across state lines. Under current law, that’s strictly prohibited in all 34 medical states and 11 adult-use states.
The Congressional bill comes just days after Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a new state law allowing the governor’s office to enter into interstate compacts with other legal cannabis state that border Oregon—Washington, Nevada or California—as soon as permission is granted by the federal government.
“As more and more states legalize cannabis, the gap between state and federal laws will only grow more confusing for both legal businesses and consumers,” Sen. Wyden said in a statement. “Congress can and should immediately act to protect the will of Oregonians and voters in other states from federal interference—and that should include interstate cannabis commerce.”