Oregon edible sales not biting local pot shop

This practice has been legal in Washington since initiative 502 was passed in 2012.

For Margie Lemberger, owner of Bingen’s Margie’s Pot Shop, the change won’t hamper the business’s sales as much as when Oregon shops first offered sales of recreational marijuana.

“It was pretty much a free for all,” said Lemberger remembering when Oregon first starting offering recreational marijuana. “This time with the edibles it’s not as big. We don’t sell as many edibles as you do the other products, the concentrates, and the weed.”

“So even if they do start, it wouldn’t be as big a hit as it was the first time,” noted Lemberger.

Recreational customers in Oregon can now buy one low-dose marijuana infused edible per day from medical marijuana dispensaries serving recreational customers. Low-dose items have no more than 15 milligrams of THC.

Washington’s laws on purchase limits differ slightly in comparison.

According to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, the purchase limit for adults age 21 and over is up to one ounce of usable marijuana (the harvested flowers, or “bud”), 16 ounces of marijuana-infused edibles in solid form, 72 ounces in liquid form, and 7 grams of marijuana concentrates.

“So there’s big differences in what they can purchase there, and what we have, and what they can purchase here,” said Lemberger.

Even though potential customers can purchase edibles in Oregon now, Lemberger says she isn’t worried about the shop. “I expect the convenience of being able to purchase your product in a local store would be beneficial to them, and I expect that that’s what’s going to happen, but you never know,” added Lemberger.

So far, business has been pretty good. Since it’s the beginning of summer Lemberger says seasonal customers are starting to show up. “We have a lot of repeat customers who are travelers, who like to come here for their vacation,” Lemberger said.