Legal Marijuana In Oregon Rental Homes

There's a lot abuzz here in Oregon today after our state became the third in the country to legalize recreational cannabis use and sales. (Alaska looks to be fourth in line and D.C. has just legalized personal growing and use.) 

While scanning the internet this morning, there were images of people smoking cigar-sized joints on the sidewalks in celebration of the 56% YES vote.  Cigar-sized...

After the smoke settles today (ba-da-bum-bum) Landlords and Property Managers and real estate professionals will no doubt need to re-think how they plan to handle their rules and regulations & selling guidelines on their properties as it relates to legal and illegal activity.  

Some good pointers for landlords and property managers and real estate agents/brokers to consider are:

• The legal status BEGINS July 1, 2015.  Until then, personal/recreation growing, possession and use is still illegal.  
• After July 2015, it is only LEGAL FOR PERSONS 21 YEARS or older.  
• CONSUMING MUST BE DONE INSIDE A PRIVATE RESIDENCE or other private location.  Smoking/consuming in public locations and common use areas will still be illegal.  If you do not allow smoking in your rentals, this will be an important aspect to highlight. 
• There will be LIMITS TO POSSESSION of plants and finished product. When conducting home inspections, it will be wise to keep an eye on volume as there will undoubtedly be those who try to push the legal limits. 
• The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has until Jan. 1, 2016 to draft & implement RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR PRODUCTION, PROCESSING & SELLING MARIJUANA.  Until then, the law only indicates that an adult can GIVE another adult up to one ounce.  So, setting up shop in your rental or home for sale is still a no-no it appears.

If you work in Real Estate, are a Landlord or Property Manager in Oregon or Alaska or Washington D.C., do you have any feedback about the hot-off-the-press change in laws?  What about those of you in the rest of the nation?

Janell is a member of Rentec Direct, a web-based property management software program designed to help streamline tenant screening and the day-to-day operations of landlords and property managers.