Oregon is exactly five weeks away from officially legalizing recreational marijuana. But as July 1st looms in the near distance, the hard rules are still waiting in the wings. 

The reason being, the state legislature has pulled the focus back to medical marijuana. 

A much-debated piece of medical marijuana legislation has bounced from a joint House-Senate Committee to the Senate’s special committee, and now resides on the Senate floor for a vote. 

The bill in question would require the Oregon Health Authority to track medical marijuana through the supply chain to curb black market sales. 

PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon medical marijuana patient who was badly burned in an explosion while he was legally using butane as a solvent to make hash oil is suing the makers and sellers of the fuel.

Kevin Tveisme, 28, of Portland, was injured in 2013 when his furnace clicked on, igniting butane vapor. The explosion destroyed his garage and injured a friend, Joseph Westom, who died 18 days later.

Treating marijuana with butane as a solvent extracts the potent hash oil at a low cost, but butane vapor is volatile. Explosions have become more common with the spread of legal medical and recreational marijuana.

As a medical marijuana cardholder, Tveisme was allowed to make hash oil under Oregon law, the lawsuit says.

by Johnny Green

A little known fact about my home state, Oregon, is that we do not have a sales tax. This if fairly rare in America these days. I remember traveling to surrounding states with my family growing up, and being bewildered by seeing a price tag on a pack of baseball cards, but then having to pay extra once I got to the cash register. It was a very foreign concept to me growing up. Now that I’m older and pay a state income tax, which is basically the trade off for no sales tax, it makes more sense to me.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon lawmakers will consider creating a sales tax for marijuana in place of fees applied to growers, the method approved by voters in last year's ballot measure legalizing the drug.

The idea is contained in a lengthy bill that is up for discussion Wednesday in a joint House-Senate committee tasked with implementing Oregon's legal marijuana program.

Proponents of a sales tax say it might be a better way to keep retail pot prices competitive with untaxed black-market prices. They say they'd like to collect roughly the same amount in taxes as they would get from the original method.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon Senate special committee unanimously passed legislation on Monday imposing a variety of new restrictions on medical marijuana, a week after a joint committee overseeing the state's marijuana rules stalled on a similar measure.

The Senate Special Committee on Implementing Measure 91 passed a proposal tightening regulations on the medical marijuana industry, such as limiting the number of plants growers can have, building an inventory tracking system for growers, processors and dispensaries, inspection requirements and an Oregon residency requirement.

Lawmakers say the lengthy set of new restrictions is necessary so the recreational program can pass muster with federal authorities.

Gresham's debate this month over whether to allow medical marijuana businesses exposed a deep divide of opinion about the drug in the state.

Supporters, like Councilor Karylinn Echols, argued city government shouldn't stand in the way of a patient's need for medication while Council President Jerry Hinton, who opposes the businesses, said he doesn't want to provide access to another intoxicating drug to residents.

If you're just joining us, Oregon's joint legislative committee that was assigned the task of implementing our recreational marijuana legalization got bogged down trying to restrict the medical marijuana program. Never mind that the Measure 91 recreational marijuana legalization initiative said, three times, that the existing medical marijuana program was not to be affected, and 56 percent of the voters agreed with that.

When it comes to the health impacts of soon-to-be-legal marijuana, long-time smokers and those who say it greatly relieves their pain have one view of its benefits, while some health professions have raised concerns about the long-term impacts.

July 1st is the official date of marijuana legalization here in Oregon.

A future Central Oregon attraction may not be another craft brewery, but a marijuana grow site where tourists can pick up samples and see how the formerly illegal cannabis plant is cultivated.

Portland will likely be the primary destination for marijuana tourism in Oregon, but Bend and Central Oregon could also see an influx with visitors combining their trips to grow sites with other amenities the region has to offer. The ability for tour companies to operate and offer something like the Bend Ale Trail or a vineyard-style tour is contingent on rulemaking currently being considered by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and state legislators.

As people in Oregon will be able to legally possess up to 1 ounce of pot, law enforcement officers in Oregon and Idaho are preparing for the change - and the influx of people they say will be crossing state lines to get high.(Photo: Mary Kienzle/KTVB)

ONTARIO, Ore. - Oregon's marijuana law is set to take effect on July 1, allowing for recreational sales and use of the drug for people 21 and older.

Now, as people in Oregon will be able to legally possess up to 1 ounce of pot, law enforcement officers in Oregon and Idaho are preparing for the change - and the influx of people they say will be crossing state lines to get high.

Ontario Police Chief Mark Alexander says legalizing recreational marijuana will have a big effect on the community he serves.