Act Today! Senate Bill 663 will effect Patients in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act. You want to be aware and affect it as necessary.

WHAT THE MEASURE DOES: Requires premises where person makes retail sales of tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems to be licensed by Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). Specifies that local government can adopt additional licensing requirement for retail sale, or can adopt ordinances or rules to restrict. Excludes retail sale of inhalant delivery system at medical marijuana facilities, unless retail sale contains component or substance that contains nicotine. Specifies qualified licensees have physical address, are not located at same address as residence and remain 1,000 feet from schools. Prohibits tobacco products and inhalant delivery systems to be sold for free, nominal fee or reduced price and use of coupons. Permits sampling of inhalant delivery systems at premises when 75 percent of business revenue is from inhalant delivery systems, no tobacco or alcohol is sold and no one under 18 may enter. Permits OLCC to work with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to administer and enforce. Requires OLCC to adopt rules. Creates civil penalties for violations. Establishes Tobacco Control Fund. Permits aerosolizing or vaporizing without cannabinoids on premises for business primarily engaged in selling inhalant delivery systems when not located at same address as residence, tobacco products or alcohol is not sold and no one under 21 may enter. Raises legal age for possession of tobacco to 21. Prohibits sales of tobacco products or inhalant delivery products to persons under 21. Creates offense of selling tobacco products or devices to person under 21. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

EFFECT OF COMMITTEE AMENDMENT: Replaces original measure. ISSUES DISCUSSED:

Compliance with tobacco and nicotine restrictions;

Enforcement tool for sale to minors;

Health of inhalant delivery systems;

Attractiveness of non-traditional tobacco products to youth;

Sale of illegal tobacco products;

Impact on business revenue.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco is known to cause heart disease, diabetes, asthma and cancer and one in five deaths are associated with tobacco use. Most tobacco users start smoking before the age of 18. Inhalant delivery systems (electronic cigarette or vaporizers) have not been fully studied, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has questioned the safety of these products. When the FDA analyzed samples of two popular brands, it found variable amounts of nicotine and traces of toxic chemicals, including known cancer-causing substances. This prompted the FDA to issue a warning about potential health risks. Oregon is one of eight states that do not require a license to sell tobacco. Further, inhalant delivery systems are unregulated in Oregon. Licensure is a method to identify who sells tobacco and inhalant delivery systems and enforce tobacco laws by controlling where and how tobacco can be sold. Currently, a person must be 18 years of age or over to possess tobacco products in Oregon. It is a Class D violation for a person under 18 years of age to have tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and cut tobacco leaf. >> Learn more >>

See - https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Measures/Overview/SB0663 - for latest.  

Action! Call your Representatives and get Everybody to do so also.

Start by finding out who your Rep/s are, contacting them, and introducing yourself and your group, or issues and what YOU think of this bill.

Keep it simple. You want to Prioritize and utilize a Smaller number of points - top 3? - concerning This bill, how it changes the medical cannabis (marijuana) program and how that effects you and/or others you know. So, consider carefully before calling on this one. And, when you do ...

Keep it short. Your call should be under 3 minutes. Don't get bogged down in details. At this point it is a numbers game.

Keep it pleasant and remember to smile. Even though they can't see it, your smile will come through.

  Also, the legislative committee agendas are flowing fast now, so make sure you're subscribed to all the relevant committees! https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORLEG/subscriber/new

Phoning Your Legislator. During a legislative session, you may call your legislators by contacting the WATS operator. Within Salem, call 503-986-1187. Outside of Salem, please call 1-800-332-2313.

Find Your Legislator online at -www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/findset.htm. Visit: www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/home.htm - and fill out the form entering your home address. Then click on the "submit" button and you will then be given your state and US legislators.

Write your legislator online. To send a message to your State Senator or State Representative please visit: www.leg.state.or.us/writelegsltr/ and fill out the form. By entering your information, you will be automatically matched to either your State Senator or your State Representative. Click "submit" when you are ready to send your message.

TESTIFYING | Staff will respectfully request that you submit 15 collated copies of written materials at the time of your testimony and, if possible, an electronic copy of materials provided to staff 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Persons making presentations, including the use of video, DVD, PowerPoint or overhead projection equipment are asked to contact committee staff and provide an electronic copy 24 hours prior to the meeting.

ADA accommodation requests should be directed to Karen Hupp, or Juliene Popinga, ADA Coordinators, at employee.services@state.or.us or by telephone at 1-800-332-2313. Requests for accommodation should be made at least 72 hours in advance.

Getting to the Capitol: 900 Court Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 * Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00-5:30 ~ Saturday: Closed ~ Sunday: Closed * Visitor Services Phone: 503-986-1388 * For more information on How to get to the Capitol, including things like Where to Park. visit: www.leg.state.or.us/capinfo/

Here is a link to text of SB 663:   S.B. 663