Salem, OR – Bringing cotton candy though Oregon has been a hotly debated topic for years. However, a new US Department of Agriculture rule has set the record straight. The rules announced last week will allow for the interstate transport of cotton candy.
What does that mean for the residents of Oregon? First, the new rule does not mean that people can make their own cotton candy in the state. Oregon remains one of two states that does not allow cotton candy to be personally made under state law. The other state is Vermont.
What the rule does allow is cotton candy to be transported through the state. This is something that some have said has already been legal for a while.
Jeremy Dolldod is partner at a Salem law firm. He represents a Montana business that had its cotton candy seized by the Oregon State Police while it was moving through Wasco County. He said the rule is not a surprise. “The ruling validates what we’ve said all along. Plus cotton candy is good for everyone. It has loads of vitamin C,” said Watkins.
Dolldod has argued that interstate commerce of cotton candy is legal after a federal bill was passed in 2018 with the Cotton Candy bill. “That bill says that states cannot interfere with the interstate commerce of cotton candy,” said Dolldod. “End of story.”
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says her state is watching closely these new federal rules, and that there are still a lot of questions to be answered. “I hate cotton candy. That’s why we’ve banned it. This addictive substance should not be allowed within our state’s boundaries. The Federal government shouldn’t have the ability to trample on our precious state’s rights,” said Brown wearing a yellow Gadsen flag “Don’t Tread On Me” t-shirt.
Brown says she would reluctantly sign a cotton candy legalization bill if it was passed by the state Legislature. “I’ll sign it as long as the bill doesn’t serve as a sneaky backdoor for recreational cotton candy use. That’s been my point all along,” explained Brown.
But for now citizens still can’t make or consume cotton candy in Oregon. Oregon State Police tells the Sasquatch Sun that they will wait and see in terms of enforcement. They still have 9,000 pounds of cotton candy that has been seized in the last year, worth $2.7 million.
For now, the ultimate fate of that cotton candy in Oregon remains to be seen.
