The World Famous Cannabis Cafe opened in Portland, Oregon, as the first cafe in the United States for state-authorized medical marijuana cardholders. Established in 2009 by Madeline Martinez, then the Executive Director of Oregon National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the Cannabis Cafe was established as a place for Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cardholders to socialize and safely medicate out of public view as required by state law. Members of the club must be a current OMMP cardholder and pay an entry fee.
The World Famous Cannabis Cafe hosts a number of community benefits throughout the year, including the annual Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards, which began in 2002. The OMCA was the first medical marijuana strain evaluation competition in the United States, and the only competition to track the medical conditions of the judges and medical effectiveness of the strains relative to specific conditions. The cafe also hosts a monthly (OMMP) Cardholder Meeting where the community of patients, caregivers and growers can stay up to date on legislative requirements and changes.