3A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016
Pot industry’s future may be
uncertain after Trump victory
Abandoned ship
New attorney
general could
take harsher view
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
Oregon’s burgeoning mar-
ijuana industry could face a
significant threat under Pres-
ident-elect Donald Trump’s
administration.
While Trump has said
he would leave legalization
for states to decide, the New
York tycoon appears poised to
appoint either New Jersey Gov.
Chris Christie or former New
York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as
attorney general, according to
the Washington Post.
Either
Christie’s
or
Giuliani’s appointment to the
U.S. Department of Justice
would fly in the face of respect-
ing states’ rights to choose legal
marijuana, said Amy Margo-
lis, an attorney and advocate
for Oregon’s recreational mar-
ijuana industry.
“People are holding their
breath,” Margolis said of mar-
ijuana business owners.
Christie has said he would
enforce the federal prohibi-
tion on cannabis and prosecute
recreational marijuana users,
according to multiple media
reports.
Oregon’s and other states’
marijuana programs now
operate under the grace of the
Obama administration’s 2013
“Cole memo.”
The memorandum by then-
U.S. Deputy Attorney Gen-
eral James Cole allows states to
operate the programs without
federal interference provided
that the states maintain a robust
regulatory system to keep pot
out the hands of minors and the
illicit market.
If the Trump administration
were to withdraw the mem-
Pamplin Media Group
It is unclear whether the Trump administration will en-
force federal marijuana laws, which would end Ore-
gon’s nascent pot industry.
orandum, recreational mari-
juana businesses and custom-
ers could be subject to federal
prosecution.
Federal legislation has
barred the federal government
from spending money to shut
down or hamper state medi-
cal marijuana programs, and a
federal appeals court in August
ruled that federal agencies may
not prosecute people for grow-
ing or distributing medical
marijuana if they are following
state laws.
Withdrawing the Cole
memo would still have a chill-
ing effect on Oregon’s recre-
ational marijuana industry and
the investment and jobs created
by legalization, Margolis said.
Prosecuting
recreational
marijuana businesses also
could impact the state’s reve-
nue stream. The state has col-
lected more than $40 million
in recreational marijuana tax
revenue since January, accord-
ing to the Department of Reve-
nue. That represents an industry
making more than $160.8 mil-
lion in sales between January
and September.
But Margolis said she thinks
it’s unlikely that the Trump
administration would withdraw
the memo because of increas-
ing support for legalization.
Voters in California, Maine,
Massachusetts and Nevada
approved recreational mar-
ijuana Tuesday and several
other states, including Flor-
ida, approved medical
marijuana.
Marijuana legalization
has broad and bipartisan
support, said Mark Pettinger,
spokesman for the Oregon
Liquor Control Commis-
sion, which regulates recre-
ational marijuana.
But because the Obama
administration did not lift
marijuana’s classification as
a Schedule 1 drug, there still
is potential for enforcement,
Margolis said.
If the Trump administra-
tion were to prosecute the
marijuana industry, states
could attempt to sue the fed-
eral government to allow
them to operate state pro-
grams, Margolis said.
The liquor control com-
mission plans to continue to
follow the Cole memo until
further notice, Pettinger said.
“There is not much we
can react to when we don’t
know what position the
Trump administration will
take,” Pettinger said.
The Capital Bureau is a
collaboration between EO
Media Group and Pamplin
Media Group.
Submitted Photo
An old boat, the Captain Nielsen, that was abandoned in the Warrenton Marina several
years ago and became property of the city was dismantled and removed by crane Tues-
day morning for a dock replacement project. The vessel had sunk in the marina several
years ago, according to Travis Benson, who helps maintain the marina.
Oregon GMO mediation needs fix
Lack of interest
raises questions
of necessity
By MATEUSZ
PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
SALEM — A legislative
mix-up has blocked the state
Department of Agriculture’s
implementation of a mediation
program for growers of con-
ventional, organic and biotech
crops. A lack of interest in the
program, however, raises ques-
tions about its necessity.
In 2015, Oregon lawmak-
ers passed a law that created
mediation protocols for grow-
ers who believe nearby farming
practices are interfering with
their operations.
H OLIDAY A RT A UCTION
AND O YSTER F RY
While the wording of the
law is broad, it was considered a
compromise to soothe conflicts
among producers of genetically
modified organisms, or GMOs,
and their neighbors.
Another proposal to create
“control areas” where GMOs
would be subject to restrictions
died in committee that year.
When the Department
of Agriculture began the
rule-making process for the
mediation program, the agency
discovered it lacked the author-
ity to legally implement it.
Another law passed in 2015
clarified language related to
mediation and removed key
provisions the department
relied upon for the GMO medi-
ation program.
“Through the hustle and
bustle of the legislative session,
PLEASE ADOPT A PET!
Lydia
Y o u n g Dilu te
To rto iseshell
a benefi t for the
Chinook Indian Nation
Join us for a special viewing of the documentary
Saturday, November 12th
at the
Columbia Pacifi c Heritage Museum
THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
Desmond Doss refused to kill enemy soldiers or
carry weapons due his personal beliefs as a Seventh-
day Adventist. He became a medic, and while serving
in World War II, he saved the lives of numerous
solders, while conforming to his religious beliefs.
it wasn’t cross-checked with
the other mediation bill,” said
Kathryn Walker, special assis-
tant to Department of Agricul-
ture’s director.
The problem will require a
legislative fix during the 2017
session. “There is interest in
correcting the situation,” she
said.
Since the law was passed,
though, the agency has received
no requests for mediation under
the program, Walker said.
Growers can seek simi-
lar mediation through the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, but
none have expressed interest
with that agency, either.
Problems of cross-pollina-
tion among GMOs and other
crops aren’t prevalent, said
Barry Bushue, president of the
Oregon Farm Bureau.
Petite, perky a n d pla yfu l.
Life w ith Lyd ia w ill pro d u ce
a m u ltitu d e o f sm a ll d elights
a n d sw eet repo se
(115 SE Lake Street in Ilwaco)
Dinner served from 4-7 pm
Auction closed at 7:30 pm
See her u n iq u e sto ry o n
Petfin d er.co m
Tickets at the Door
November 5 th & 12 th AT 7:00
Free Admission and book
N ATIVE AND
L OCAL A RTISTS
Seaside Adventist Church • 1450 N Roosevelt Drive
For more info call: 503-739-5184
www.dogsncats.org
CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER • 861-PETS
1315 SE 19th St. • Warrenton | Tues-Sat 12-4pm
Ron Pulliam, wood turner
Joe Brignon, photographer
Dave Barthlett, fi ne artist
Richard Rowland, ceramics/pottery
THIS SPACE SPONSORED BY
BAY BREEZE BOARDING
D INNER AND
E NTERTAINMENT
Drumming, singing and dancing
Fried Willapa oystsers (or hot dogs)
Smoked salmon chowder
Homemade desserts
Visit our website to learn more:
www.ChinookNation.org
e
to th
Tribu u te ghter
l
a
c
i
s
A Mu iner’s Da
Coal M
S ATURDAY
N OVEMBER 12 TH • 7 PM
S UNDAY
N OVEMBER 13 TH • 2 PM
CCC Performing Arts Center
588 16th Street
:
Astoria
S PONSORED BY
Tickets available at
www.hey-loretta.com/tickets
and Rusty Cup, 1213 Commercial St
$ 15 Advance
$ 18 Day Of*
*Bring a non-perishable food item and receive $2 off on admission at the door
A STORIA
S ENIOR
C ENTER
THE ASTORIA SENIOR CENTER
is celebrating its fi rst year in the remodeled building.
Please join us!
Tuesday
November 15 th
2 to 4 PM
H OLIDAY
Bazaars
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Saturday, November 19 th
9 AM TO 3 PM
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lunch Served
Hand Made Crafts & Quilts
Cookie Walk
Baked Foods, Jams & Jellies
One of a Kind Items
Great Selection & Prices
Gift Baskets
Christmas
Bazaar
& Cafe
Saturday
December 3rd
10 AM to 4 PM
Bazaar
Seaside
United
Methodist
Church
H ORS D ’ OEUVRES AND F INGER F OODS
Prepared and served by
Tongue Point Job Corps Center Culinary Class
Our Saviour’s
Lutheran Church
New Membership Special:
320 First Ave
Seaside
14 months for the price of 12!
(across the street from the
Seaside Convention Center)
AT THE
S EASIDE E LKS L ODGE • 324 A VENUE A
We celebrate our Veterans this
day with a gathering of citizens
FREE Spagetti dinner to follow program
graciously provided by Guido & Vitos
For more information contact
Seaside Elks Lodge at
503-738-6651
Thank You
for your Sympathy
Noon to 4:00 pm
Kindness
Kindness
Liberty Theater
lifts us up,
lights our path,
smoothes the journey,
sees us through.
Your sympathy and kindness
will always be remembered.
The Family of
All items 50 cents,
including gift -wrapping
At the Cafe
Saturday, Nov. 12 th , 2016 at 6:oo PM
Saturday
Dec. 10
Kid’s Bazaar
Homemade Soup, Rolls & Pie
VETERANS
REMEMBRANCE
241 N. Holladay Dr.
Seaside, OR
503-738-7562
Craft s
Baked Goods
Christmas Quilt Raffl e
Scandinavian Goodies!
1111 Exchange Street
SEASIDE ELKS LODGE
#1748 PRESENTS
John Lindstrom
Festive Shopping
that Benefits
Local Nonprofits
Jan, Kathy (Matt), David,
and Michelle (Brad)
Granddaughters
Jacklyn and Fiona