OREGON:  The U.S. House narrowly passed a bill early Friday morning that would block the federal government from interfering with state medical marijuana laws — but it wasn’t a close vote when it came to the Oregon congressional delegation.

All five Oregon representatives voted for the amendment, including the lone Republican in the delegation, Greg Walden.  He was one of just 49 GOP members to support the amendment to a bill funding the Department of Justice.

The unanimous vote appeared to be a recognition of how deeply entrenched medical marijuana is in Oregon.  The state was one of the first to approve medical marijuana, in a 1998 ballot measure.  Last year, the Legislature passed a law allowing regulated dispensaries to open (although several localities have sought to prohibit them).

Medical marijuana was approved the same year in Washington state, but three of the state’s Republican representatives voted against the House amendment.  They are Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who represents southwest Washington, and Reps. Dave Reichert and Cathy McMorris Rodgers.