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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016 Oregon cities setting rules Unemployment slightly after opting in to legal pot higher in county than US ‘This is the fi rst time we’ve had to step in and develop and regulate a marketplace for a controlled substance since 1933.’ By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM— Some 30 counties and cities in Ore- gon approved some type of marijuana businesses in last week’s election, and offi - cials in those communities now must establish rules for every step in the production and supply chain. When voters legal- ized recreational marijuana statewide two years ago, the communities — from the cowboy town of Pendleton to Sweet Home in the Wil- lamette Valley — opted out. But many switched it up this month, voting to allow at least some form of the pot industry, including medical marijuana. “No one has done this in Oregon since liquor Prohi- bition,” said Scott Winkels, a lobbyist with the League of Oregon Cities. “This is the fi rst time we’ve had to step in and develop and reg- ulate a marketplace for a controlled substance since 1933.” Local offi cials must determine operating hours for marijuana retailers, growing farms and proces- sors. They also were try- ing to fi gure out whether the businesses should be allowed near parks and what sort of security and odor controls the businesses must provide. The rule-setting also was happening in other states that have legalized recre- ational marijuana. In California, which approved pot last week, the San Jose City Council imposed a temporary ban — including on outdoor gardens — to give offi cials time to develop regulations for sales and farming. The Daily Astorian Clatsop County posted a 5.3 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October, according to the state Employ- ment Department. Unemployment was down from the previous month and the year prior, both 5.5 percent. The county had the 10th-low- est unemployment among Ore- gon’s 36 counties, tied with Wasco County. The state posted a 5.3 unemployment rate, and the U.S. 4.9 percent. The state compares sea- sonally expected changes with employment realities to create seasonally adjusted fi gures. Clatsop County shed 570 jobs in October, 10 fewer than expected. Total nonfarm payroll employment was 17,970, 360 more than the year prior, for a growth rate of 2 percent. The private sector lost 710 jobs in October, while govern- ment employment rose by 140. Scott Winkels a lobbyist with the League of Oregon Cities 2012, the rules were still being tweaked. This month, Denver became the fi rst U.S. city to allow people to use mar- ijuana in bars and restau- rants, though state licensing offi cials announced a rule Friday that prohibits busi- nesses with liquor licenses from allowing pot con- sumption on their premises. The move strikes a major blow to the voter-passed initiative. In Oregon, the Liquor Control Commission didn’t begin fi nalizing regulations and licensing businesses until this year. The commu- nities that approved mari- juana businesses on Elec- tion Day are now starting to look at regulations. “Most have been bor- rowing from each other,” said Rob Bovett, legal coun- sel of Association of Oregon Counties, describing efforts to establish ordinances. Opt-in ballot measures go into effect in January, Bovett said. If the juris- dictions want to reap the tax benefi ts at the earliest opportunity, they should have the regulations fi nal- ized before then so mari- juana companies can seek licenses and start doing business, liquor commis- sion spokesman Mark Pet- tinger said. The League of Oregon Cities has drawn up a guide to help struggling Colorado In Colorado, where vot- ers passed marijuana in local offi cials. It says cities may impose restrictions on the hours of operation and the loca- tions of producers, proces- sors, wholesalers, as well as retailers and medical mar- ijuana grow sites, process- ing sites and dispensaries. They may also regulate pub- lic access and how the busi- nesses operate. “Probably most cit- ies will use (the guide) as a template,” Winkels said. “The easiest way is to cut and paste the ordinance in ... though some will probably be making local adjustments.” Robert Snyder, lawyer for the town of Sweet Home, said forming the rules is “going to take work” and that it will be up to the city council to decide whether to get public input. One marijuana ballot measure that passed last week imposed a 3 percent local sales tax on marijuana products, on top of a 17 per- cent state sales tax, Bovett said. Even counties and cities that decided to prohibit mar- ijuana businesses hedged their bets by approving the additional tax so they can be prepared to impose it if voters eventually say yes to pot. “All (of Oregon’s) 111 cities and counties voted yes on the local tax,” Bovett said. Jobless rates for October * Area Clatsop Oct. Sept. 1-yr. 2016 2016 ago 5.3 5.5 5.5 Columbia 6.6 6.8 7.1 Tillamook 5.5 5.6 5.8 Oregon 5.3 5.5 5.6 U.S. 4.9 5 5 *Preliminary, seasonaly adjusted rates. Source: Oregon Employment Department Daily Astorian graphic Leisure and hospitality cut 380 jobs over the month, along with 80 lost by retail trade, 70 in pro- fessional and business services and another 70 in food manu- facturing. Local government education added 190 jobs with the start of the school year. Over the past year, the pri- vate sector has added 280 jobs, and governments another 80. The professional and business services sector has added 230 positions over the past year, along with 60 in leisure and hos- pitality. Manufacturing lost 60 jobs over that time frame. Columbia County posted a 6.6 percent unemployment rate in October, down 6.8 per- cent from the month prior and 7.1 percent from a year ago. The county’s nonfarm payroll employment was 10,730, with a growth rate of 1.7 percent from the year prior. Tillamook County posted a 5.5 percent seasonally adjusted employment rate in October, down from 5.6 percent the year prior and 5.8 percent a year ago. The county’s nonfarm payroll employment was 9,000, with a growth rate of 1.9 percent from the year prior. No marijuana ban in Manzanita ‘I wasn’t surprised. We had a very engaged citizenry behind the initiative.’ Prohibition fails by wide margin By LYRA FONTAINE The Daily Astorian MANZANITA —Recre- ational marijuana is still legal to sell and buy in Manzanita. While Cannon Beach citizens brought the marijuana question to voters, the Manzanita City Coun- cil decided to put a measure on the ballot asking voters whether recreational marijuana sales and processing businesses should be prohibited within city limits. The ban failed, with 308 Manzanita voters, about 67 per- cent, against it and 149 votes in favor of prohibition. Manzanita is part of the Pine Grove precinct, which voted in favor of marijuana legalization in 2014. However, it was unclear Brant Kucera Cannon Beach City Manager how many of those who voted “yes” were Manzanita residents, which led to the council to bring the question to voters, said Kris- tin Grasseth, city of Manzanita administrative assistant. There have been no mari- juana business applications since the recent failing of the ban. If the ban had passed, Ore- gon Coast Cannabis would have only been able to sell medical marijuana, not recreational. The Manzanita shop has been sell- ing both. “That was all just pending on what the city’s fi nal decision was, whether they would be able to continue selling the recre- ational or if they would have to cease,” Grasseth said. While the two cities had sim- ilar proposals, Manzanita’s mar- gin of victory surpassed that of Cannon Beach. “I wasn’t surprised,” Can- non Beach City Manager Brant Kucera said. “We had a very engaged citizenry behind the ini- tiative. If you look at Manzanita, they had a similar (measure). 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