Oregon cannabis industry stands firm amid Donald Trump's presidency

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Several states are voting to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational purposes. California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine already legalized cannabis for adults as well as Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota joined most states with legal medical marijuana. But, cannabis communities need reassurance that the Trump administration will continue the momentum.

According to Portland Business Journal, Chris Christie, a vocal opponent of legal marijuana and a close associate of President-elect Donald Trump, stands an existential threat to the advocacy to legalize cannabis if he were to become Attorney General in the Trump Administration.

"Chris Christie has been our biggest fear, so I think Trump being the president could cause some investors to pause and assess the situation more completely", said Sara Batterby of Hifi Farms, a Hillsboro-based cannabis grower.

However, Jenny Diggles, Vice President for Capital Development at McArthur Capital and a known investor in Oregon cannabis businesses, said, "Trump has never spoken out against cannabis and he said he would leave it to the states," in a television interview in Colorado last July.

Trump commented that it is up to the states to tackle the issue. While being ask if Christie as Attorney General might mean a change in federal policy towards states, Donald Trump said, "I am a state person. I think it should be up to the states."

Still, in an article posted in Weed News, Donald Trump's public statements may be questioned about maintaining President Obama's policy of allowing states to implement their own cannabis policies without federal interference.

The article brings about Trump's flip-flopping on many issues including drug policy, is the reason of distrust. Also, a chance that he will have the law-and-order types like Rudy Guiliani and Chris Christie makes another reason to be wary.

For so many years, marijuana is made illegal in federal law. But in 2013, Obama's administration Justice Department memorandum outlined how states could develop their own policies and avoid interference from the feds.

For now, it is up to the advocates to continue to work towards passing provisions to fix the cannabis industry regardless of any oppositions.