PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon attracts many people from elsewhere, and a new law taking effect New Year's Day allows some of them to get a concealed handgun license.
State law generally prohibits people with drug convictions from getting a license to carry a concealed handgun. But Oregon reduced the severity of marijuana possession charges in 1973, and has long allowed residents with one minor pot offense to obtain a license.
That exception, however, did not apply to Oregonians who got caught with an identical amount of marijuana in another state.
Starting Thursday, it will.
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It's one of several relatively low-profile laws going into effect this week. The most anticipated new law of 2015, marijuana legalization, takes effect in six months.