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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2015)
December 16, 2015 Page 5 Cannabis Club Owners Scramble C ontinued from p age 3 electronic cigarettes, updating the definition of “Inhalant delivery system” and including marijuana in the Oregon Clean Air for the first time. It re-defined a “public place” as any enclosed place open to the public, and “inhalant” as a device used for the delivery of any nic- otine, cannabinoids or other sub- stance into a person’s respiratory system Madeline Martinez argues that her World Famous Cannabis Café is private, and that everyone working there is a volunteer, but that didn’t stop the Oregon Health Authority from stopping by to in- form her that, effective in January, they would not be able to consume pot indoors. Cigar bars are also covered by the Clean Air Act, but are still allowed to operate under certain conditions. Martinez says that she has been a medical marijuana user for de- cades and that she views the sub- stance as an important medical re- source for communities that don’t always have other options. Gates is also worried about the disproportionate number of low income people to be affected by club closures. “If people who use medi- cal marijuana can use it safely indoors, they avoid fines, they avoid smoking in front of chil- dren or people who might be made ill by it, and they can find a community of other people who might be medical users or have similar illnesses,” she said. “I know our users can’t afford a fine every time they need to smoke, and many of them can’t smoke in their apartments or subsidized housing.” The affected clubs are trying to get an appointment with lawmak- ers to bring forward their concerns collectively, but the Legislature doesn’t convene until February. For now, they’ll have to keep looking for loopholes. Marlin Starr, a cannabis club customer and cannabis cream business owner, says he too is an advocate for the clubs and feels average citizens should have the right to assemble and smoke to- gether. “People need a safe space to smoke recreationally,” he says. “It’s their First Amendment right to be able to assemble freely, and these laws unfairly criminalize poor people who also have legally won the right to use marijuana in Oregon. Rich people can go back to their private homes, it’s true, but everyone should have equal access to the law, and the clubs provide that. We need that in Or- egon.” Activists Shut Down Board C ontinued from p age 3 ing with the PSU administration, staff and faculty unions, and stu- dent groups to address diversity issues on campus by stepping up efforts to hire more diverse faculty and advisers, developing cultural- ly responsive training and curricu- lum, and providing more scholar- ships for students of color. An immediate action was Wiewel’s decision last week to raise the profile of the school’s Subscribe! 503-288-0033 chief diversity officer to PSU Vice President for Global Diversity and Inclusion to make it clear that “the position is integral and equal to that of the Provost and other PSU leadership.” Gallagher said PSU will also create meeting places for African American students and Asian/Pa- cific Islander students on campus, complementing existing space for Latino students, the Native Amer- ican Center, and the Multicultural Center for all students of color. Fill Out & Send To: Attn: Subscriptions, PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208 $45.00 for 3 months • $80.00 for 6 mo. • $125.00 for 1 year (please include check with this subscription form) Name: Telephone: Address: or email subscriptions@portlandobserver.com