Tina Kotek

On September 1, Oregon officially reinstalled criminal penalties for drug possession under House Bill 4002, ending a nearly four-year experiment with drug decriminalization. This shift, which ironically comes just a day after International Overdose Awareness Day, is drawing sharp criticism from...

As the November election approaches so come deadlines for submitting signatures for various initiatives. In Oregon, the deadline was July 5th, and two groups successfully collected more than 100,000 signatures. The two measures that now have a chance to end up on the ballot are: 1) imposing higher...

In a significant blow to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Oregon has passed a right-to-repair bill that outlaws the contentious practice of parts pairing in repairs. What Happened: Despite Apple’s vigorous opposition, Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek signed SB 1596...

Virginia Governor’s Veto Raises Controversy Over Parental Rights And Cannabis In Virginia, a significant legislative effort to safeguard the parental rights of lawful cannabis users faced a setback. Despite bipartisan support and near-unanimous approval in the Senate, Governor Glenn Youngkin...

Oregon’s first-in-the-nation law decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs is being questioned. Two years ago, voters approved Measure 110 with a 58.8%, effectively decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, methamphetamine and...

Oregon Gov. Declines To Establish State Public Bank To Serve Marijuana Businesses Governor Tina Kotek (D) rejected a proposed bill that sought to establish a 19-member state task force responsible for exploring the potential advantages and drawbacks of establishing a public bank. Such an...

Ex-director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), Steve Marks, filed a tort claim notice with the state arguing that Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek fired him over her connections with the owners of the troubled marijuana company La Mota.  What Happened: Kotek pushed Marks, who...

Oregon's cannabis regulator issued a recall for a batch of cannabis flower from a Bend-based producer due to the presence of arsenic, reported Central Oregon Daily. The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) urged retailers and the public not to sell, buy or use cannabis from the ...

Many U.S. states are having trouble with illegal cannabis operations. Oregon, well-known for producing high-quality marijuana, is undertaking an original approach. The legislature in Oregon passed a bill that seeks to make landowners responsible for the aftermath...

Workers Call For Removal Of House Lawmakers After Killing Cannabis Unionization Scandals related to the cannabis industry in Oregon are piling up. On the heels of the news that Gov. Tina Kotek (D) was aware of former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s consulting contract in connection...

As the dust settles around the recent cannabis moonlighting scandal in Oregon, more details emerge. What Happened: Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan (D) resigned earlier this month following a public scandal related to the controversial cannabis consultant job she took as a side gig....

New Team Of Top Executives And Experts To Lead USCC Amid Possible Cannabis Policy Reform The U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC) recently shook up its management team, reported Marijuana Moment. The marijuana advocacy group named Edward Conklin, previously a lobbyist for Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA...

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan (D) resigned Tuesday following a public scandal related to the controversial cannabis consultant job she took as a side gig. Her resignation will be effective Monday, May 8. The news comes on the heels of Fagan’s termination of her...

On Friday, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) released an audit on the regulation of the marijuana industry calling for the modernization of cannabis laws to help grow the economy and ensure social equity. The audit comes on the heels of the Oregon Secretary of State...

Top officials of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission might lose their jobs over a 23-year-old whiskey scandal. What happened? According to an internal investigation by the commission, acquired by AP, executive director Steve Marks and other five agency officials used their position to obtain...