The News

Oregon Lawmakers Push to Protect Pot Users’ Info from U.S.

Oct. 1, 2015, Oregrown employees Bianca Pintar (L) and Dusty Newman, (R), help customers during the first day of recreational marijuana sales in Bend, Ore. Amid concerns of a federal crackdown lawmakers in Oregon are moving to protect the personal information of marijuana customers

SALEM, Oregon – Oregon lawmakers worried about a nationwide crackdown on legalized marijuana under the Trump administration are rushing to protect the personal information of pot customers.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is taking one of the first direct state actions in response to White House spokesman Sean Spicer suggesting a boost in enforcement of federal anti-marijuana laws.

Legislation would require pot businesses to destroy internal logs of their customers’ names, addresses and birth dates within 48 hours.

Oct. 1, 2015, employees of Amazon Organics, a pot dispensary in Eugene, Ore., help customers purchase recreational marijuana. Amid concerns of a federal crackdown lawmakers in Oregon are moving to protect the personal information of marijuana customers. Photo: AP/Ryan Kang

Four states have shops that sell the drug and are required to check IDs to verify that customers are at least 21. But many in Oregon take it further, logging and retaining personal details for marketing purposes.

Colorado and Alaska prohibit keeping that private information. It’s also frowned upon, although not illegal, in Washington state.

KRISTENA HANSEN