Recreational marijuana: C.O. police say they are ready

Recreational marijuana will become legal in Oregon as of Wednesday.

“Ready or not, here it comes,” Bend Police Officer Scott Vincent said Tuesday.

Some of the basic rules are in place:

* You have to be 21 years or older to be able to posses or smoke marijuana.
* You can use it in your home, but you cannot use it in public. It is a Class B violation with a possible fine of $650.
* You can posses 8 ounces of it at your home and 1 ounce outside your home.
* You can grow up to four plants per residence and outside of public view. If it is viewable, there is a $650 fine as well.
* Driving under the influence remains illegal.
* You can share your cannabis, but you cannot sell it. You will also not be able to buy it anywhere.
* You cannot take marijuana across the state border.
* You can make edible products, but you can only consume them at home.

Starting in October of next year, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission will allow dispensaries to sell marijuana for recreational purposes.

But that picture might change even sooner. Senate Bill 460 passed the Oregon Senate Tuesday morning, which would make it legal to buy recreational marijuana starting Oct. 1 of this year. The bill is still waiting for approval in the House.

Currently, the Oregon Health Department oversees that program.

“There are laws right now that contradict themselves,” Vincent said.

In Redmond, you have to make sure your neighbors cannot smell cannabis.

Bend police said they are ready, especially for the weekend.

“Extra law enforcement officers will be on patrol on the Fourth of July, looking specifically for driving impaired, public use of marijuana, those types of things,” Vincent said.