What Oregon’s Certified Ballot Title Means For Cannabis Social Lounges In 2026

2 September 2025

Oregon moved a step closer to sanctioned cannabis social spaces after the state attorney general certified a ballot title for a 2026 initiative to legalize cannabis social lounges. The measure, advanced by the Oregon Cannabis Cafe Coalition (OCCC), would allow adults 21 and older to bring their own cannabis and consume it at licensed venues overseen by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC). On-site cannabis sales would be prohibited, and only microbusinesses - not retail dispensaries - could hold lounge licenses.

Under the proposal, lounges could sell unmedicated food and beverages and hemp-derived CBD, but alcohol and tobacco (including nicotine vapes) would be barred. Lounges would close by 2 a.m. The initiative also emphasizes education, requiring venues to post health warnings and directing OLCC and public health officials to conduct outreach about lounge rules and cannabis risks. Local governments would be able to set additional limitations and conduct inspections; violations could lead to fines or license actions, and unlicensed operation could carry civil or criminal penalties.

The certification followed submission of more than 1,400 voter signatures that triggered title drafting and a draft title public comment period. Only one comment was filed, suggesting “lounges” was ambiguous; election officials disagreed, noting the term is widely understood and specifically defined in the measure. With certification complete - and a short window for any Supreme Court review - organizers can launch a statewide signature drive seeking just over 117,000 valid signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot. If voters approve the measure, it would take effect January 1, 2027.

Advocates say regulated lounges would fill a long-standing gap in Oregon’s cannabis framework: despite adult-use legalization, public consumption remains illegal, leaving residents and visitors with few legal spaces to consume outside private homes. The OCCC describes lounges as alcohol-free social venues designed to operate under public health and safety rules, with no on-site cannabis sales and clear boundaries on smoking and vaping.

With the ballot title certified, OCCC leaders are preparing to fund professional petitioning, advertising, web, and community events, while recruiting volunteers. The signature campaign will determine whether Oregonians see the question on the 2026 general election ballot - and whether the state adds a regulated social consumption option to its cannabis policy.