Portland’s recreational marijuana market is off to a quick start—the industry reported more than $11 million in sales during the first week alone. With that increase in Portlanders toking up comes renewed concerns about the health risks, and benefits, associated with the cannabis plant.

Otis Brawley, the chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society, told GoLocal that while there are serious health risks that arise when the cannabis plant is smoked, there are also medicinal benefits to using marijuana in other forms.

It’s been nearly a year since Oregon voters passed Measure 91, its very own law legalizing marijuana for recreational consumption and possession by those over the age of 21. Taking cues and lessons from both Colorado and Washington, which passed their own bills in November 2012, Oregon became one of two states to vote in a legalization measure last year, along with Alaska.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission on Thursday approved the final versions of the rules for full-scalemarijuana retail sales that will begin next year, including the rules for home delivery for marijuana.

Many in the industry actually advocated against allowing retail marijuana shops, according to  Rob Patridge, OLCC Chairman.

BEND, Ore. -

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has released  temporary rules that will regulate the state's recreational marijuana businesses for much of next year.

The new temporary rules will be in effect starting Jan. 1 until June 28 of next year, when permanent rules are expected to be in place.

"I think the rules were a great first step, in issuing a draft to let the community of Oregon know what they are going to expect next year," BloomWell owner Jeremy Kwit said Sunday.

The 78-page guidelines cover all the basics on how recreational marijuana shops must operate.

The rules limit the size of growing operations and won't allow medical and recreational stores under one roof.

The votes are advisory only, meaning it's up to tribal leaders on the next step.

We all need more and better information about the pros and cons of marijuana. What can pain management doctors tell us about the value of it for their patients? And what detrimental effects does it have on people?

Law enforcement officials certainly have some opinions about the impact of marijuana on drivers. Judges and attorneys certainly could add some perspectives on the usage of marijuana, especially regarding its potential to create additional illegal drug use.

VANCOUVER — A Colorado official has some sobering words of advice for Justin Trudeau if he fulfils his promise to legalize pot in Canada.

“It’s going to be a lot harder to implement than you think. It’s going to take a lot longer to do it. And it’s going to cost more than you think,” said Lewis Koski, director of the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division.

Colorado is one of four U.S. states to fully legalize recreational bud. Their challenges — including how to regulate edibles like brownies and cookies and a rise in drug-impaired driving — could be instructive for Canada’s incoming prime minister.

Among the questions Trudeau’s government could grapple with are whether to allow people to grow pot at home or buy it in stores, and how much sales tax to charge.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission on Thursday approved wide-ranging rules that will launch the state's recreational marijuana industry next year.

The commission spent the morning tweaking 77 pages of administrative rules that detail everything from the security that licensed growers must have to the kind of information that has to be listed on product labels.

Attorneys for the commission and the Oregon Department of Justice spent the afternoon revising the rules, which were approved when the board reconvened at the end of the day.

This year has been an exciting one for proponents of both recreational and medicinal marijuana legalization efforts. Two states began to allow medicinal use, while two more states and Washington, D.C. have started to permit recreational use. Let’s take a look at the latest in these territories and how laws, regulations and rules have been developed around these measures.

Recreational Use

Oregon

MILWAUKIE, Ore. (AP) - Marijuana stores would be prohibited from selling both recreational and medical marijuana and pot could not be used on site under regulations considered Thursday by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

The OLCC is expected to approve more than 70 pages of rules that will govern Oregon's retail marijuana system once it's fully operational next year. While marijuana stores began selling to adults 21 and older earlier this month, they're operating under temporary authority from the medical marijuana program. By 2017, companies producing or selling marijuana to the general population will have to abide by the OLCC's regulations for health, safety and security.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is expected to vote Thursday afternoon on a wide-ranging set of rules that will launch the state's recreational marijuana industry.

The commission spent the morning tweaking 77 pages of administrative rules that detail everything from the security licensed growers must have to the kind of information that has to be listed on product labels.

Attorneys for the commission and the Oregon Department of Justice will spend the afternoon incorporating those revisions into the rules. The commission will reconvene at 5 p.m. to vote on the requirements.