The CannaFacts website is designed to be a one-stop resource for general information on current cannabis laws and regulations relevant to the general public in Deschutes County, Oregon.

Even though recreational cannabis is legal in the state of Oregon, some cannabis-related activities are still illegal and can subject a person to arrest. Although most people engage in legal activity, illegal activity is still occurring. Some illegal activity is serious and dangerous, and has a negative impact on not only our community’s safety and health but also legal recreational cannabis businesses.

Website Goals:

  1. Improve the public’s knowledge and understanding of the complex state laws and county and city regulations surrounding cannabis.
  2. Increase leads on serious illegal activity.
  3. Direct concerns and questions about cannabis activity to the correct agency.

What This Site Does NOT Provide

The CannaFacts website does NOT do the following:

  1. Provide any legal advice. If you have questions regarding a legal situation, contact a lawyer that specializes in Oregon cannabis law.
  2. Deal with Oregon’s Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). If you have questions regarding OMMP, contact the Oregon Health Authority for more information.
  3. Address the specific rules and regulations required to launch or run a commercial cannabis operation. For more information on commercial operations visit the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCCC) website.

Terminology

Cannabis vs. Marijuana – “Marijuana,” “weed,” “pot,” and “Mary Jane” are among the countless terms that refer to the cannabis plant and its associated products. Although “marijuana” is the word most commonly used, it is not preferable due to its negative and historically racial connotations. For this reason, the CannaFacts website has chosen to use the word “cannabis” instead of “marijuana.” The term “marijuana” is only used in this website when it is already included within another document.

The CannaFacts website also uses the term “21+” to refer to adults 21 or older.

Why Do We Care About Illegal Cannabis?

The purpose of the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team is multi-faceted for reasons that include the following:

  1. The sale of illegal cannabis negatively impacts legal cannabis businesses; because illegal businesses are not following state regulations and paying required fees and taxes, they can sell their products at a lower price.
  2. As a result, the State of Oregon loses millions of dollars in funding from lost tax revenues that would be used to support education, policing costs and drug rehabilitation.
  3. Illegal cannabis growers often don’t follow safe practices. They are known to use pesticides not safe for human consumption, ship product that contains mold, dump chemicals that leach into the ground and our drinking water, and utilize hazardous electrical set-ups.
  4. Many illegal growers also have BHO (Butane Honey Oil) labs which can be highly flammable if not properly run. BHO is only allowed to be processed in a licensed facility.
  5. Illegal sales have also been connected to organized crime cartels. These organizations use the money for other illegal activities such as money laundering, guns, and the trafficking of illicit drugs and humans.