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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 2017)
NEWS BY MIKE BIVINS WEED WORKER PERMITS EASY TO OBTAIN I f your New Year’s resolution involves quitting your current job, you can now consider an array of jobs within Oregon’s budding recreational marijuana in- dustry. But before you can land that career you’ve only ever dreamed about surrounded by the skunky scent of weed, you must pass a multiple choice test, a background check and then fork over $100 in order to secure a Marijua- na Worker Permit from the Oregon Liquor Control Com- mission (OLCC). For an industry currently stifled by regulations, this $100 fee could prove prohibitive. Data provided by the OLCC seem to support that assertion, as there are an almost equal number of permits issued (4,303) as permits that have been approved but not paid for, which stands at 4,288. LANE COUNTY AREA SPRAY SCHEDULE However, the number of approved but unpaid permits could also be attributed in part to a workaround for those employed at a marijuana business licensed by the OLCC. It is currently mandatory for the people operating an OLCC licensed marijuana business to have their worker per- mit, while their licensee’s employees need only to take the test and obtain their permit “as soon as possible,” according to the Marijuana Worker Permit FAQ on the OLCC’s website. So while there’s no guarantee that an OLCC-licensed business will hire you without your Marijuana Worker Per- mit, not paying the fee may not hinder you at first either. Hwy. 99 Cannabis Co.’s manager Tim Byars likens the process to that of bartenders getting their OLCC server permit. He says that the process has been “working fine” for him and for the shop’s other four employees. Byars notes that four out of the five currently have their permit, but says that “as long as you are in the process of getting it, you can work.” Tippi Pollet, manager of Green Health Associates, says that the Marijuana Worker Permit program is “working fine” and that the process is “super easy.” Pollet also says that the company paid for all of its employees’ permits, and that the $100 fee “is a hindrance if you have to come up with it, and if you don’t have a job.” • Roseburg Resources Co, 679-3311, plans to spray aminopyralid, metsulfuron methyl, clopyralid, flumioxazin, glyphosate, hexazinone, imazapyr, indaziflam, sulfometuron methyl, triclopyr, Forest Crop Oil, W.E.B. Oil, Brush & Basal Oil, Conquer, Crop Oil Concentrate, MSO Concentrate and/or Super Spread MSO on 178.3 acres near Farman Creek between Simonsen Rd and Territorial Hwy. See ODF continued notification 2016-781-10835 or call While coming up with the $100 fee may not be easy, the 30-question test is. This reporter needed less than an hour to read the man- ual — available as a PDF on the OLCC’s website — and pass the open-book test with a perfect score. Most of the multiple-choice questions are easy, some with amusing an- swers that are obviously incorrect. Once those hurdles are cleared, the only thing left to do is download the certificate of completion emailed by the OLCC, snap a quick picture of the applicant’s photo ID and attach both to the electronic permit application before submitting it. Less than 24 hours later, this reporter was informed via email that the last obstacle to complete to get the permit was doling out $100 to the OLCC, at which point the option to download and then print the license becomes available. The OLCC does not mail the license. Mark Pettinger, the OLCC’s public affairs contact for recreational marijuana, confirmed that employees may continue to work as long as they are in the process of get- ting the permit. Pettinger did not respond before press time to a request as just how long a time that grace period lasts before a weed worker must pay the $100. ■ Brian Peterson at 541-935-2283 with questions. • Brian Templeton Logging, 541-729-5111, plans to harvest timber and spray glyphosate mostly on roads on a total of 814.4 acres near Templeton Road this year. See ODF notification 2017-781-00219, call Robin Biesecker at 541- 935-2283 with questions. Compiled by Gary Hale, Forestland Dwellers: 541-342-8332, forestland- dwellers.org Oregon Department of Transportation; Public Hearing/Open House Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – Draft 2018 to 2021 STIP for Public Review The open house will feature maps to view and handouts about selected projects. ODOT staff will be on hand to answer questions and take comments. There will be comment cards available to leave comments regarding specific projects. MEETING DATE Wednesday, February 8, 2017 MEETING TIME Lane County ACT Open House 4:30- 5:15PM; followed by Lane County ACT Meeting 5:30-7:00PM MEETING NAME Lane County Area Commission on Transportation (Lane County ACT) MEETING PLACE Lane County Public Works Complex 3040 N Delta Hwy., Eugene, OR Goodson Conference Room OPEN TO THE PUBLIC The meeting is open to the public for comment. ACCOMMODATIONS: Accommodations will be provided to persons with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please call John Maher the Region 2 STIP and Financial Plan Manager. To view or comment on this document, please visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/ TD/STIP/STIP/DRAFT_STIP_18-21.pdf. You can also contact the Region 2 STIP and Financial Plan Manager John Maher at John.D.MAHER@odot.state.or.us. eugeneweekly.com • January 12, 2017 9
