Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 14, 2017)
4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 Growers: Pot farming still illegal under federal law Continued from Page 1A population of 69 million, the group said. Big questions A (2) (-) (-) (6) (-) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (-) (20) (-) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) L KATU KOMO KING KOIN KIRO KGW KRCW KOPB KPTV KPDX KCPQ TBS KZJO ESPN ESPN2 NICK DISN FAM FMC LIFE ROOT FS1 SPIKE COM HIST A&E TLC DISC NGEO TNT AMC USA FOOD HGTV FX CNN FNC CNBC BRAV TCM SYFY RFD (2) (4) (5) (-) (7) (-) (3) (10) (12) (-) (13) (20) (22) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) 6 W A NTED as he tells of dealing with old counter-culture types who peel off $100 bills, but provide little detail about who they are, what they want and what they’re doing. “You have to have the patience of Job to work with these guys,” he said. At another booth, veteran grower Joe Pietri promoted his “Grow Like Joe” methods and his book, “The 15-Ounce Pound,” in which he predicts “Big Pharma” will patent can- nabis and use the IRS and DEA to control other growers. He said pot growers need to match the efficiency of com- mercial nurseries. “If you can’t grow canna- bis like they do chrysanthe- mums, they will wipe you out,” Pietri told a couple people who stopped at his booth. “You won’t survive in this industry.” Representatives of a Colo- rado “Hemp Temps” company said they offer growers trained and temporary bud tenders, trimmers and harvesters. The company expects to open an Oregon branch this spring. St. Patrick’s Day Dinner CORNED BEEF Le gio n AND CABBAGE March 17 th • 5-8 PM • $ 10 Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 LISTINGS A - Charter Astoria/ Seaside - L - Charter Long Beach Jenny Argie, from Brook- lyn, New York, demonstrated products she offers through her company, Baked At Home. Argie is a cancer survivor, and used cannabis as an alternative to pharmaceuticals to man- age pain and nausea. She sells legal cookie, cake and brownie mixes that allow buyers to add their own cannabis oil at home. That gives users control over their dosage, Argie said. Argie joked that she’s become the Betty Crocker of cannabis baking. “The interest and enthusi- asm is so big,” she said. Argie also sells lotions infused with CBD, or canna- bidiol, which along with THC is one of the primary elements of pot. CBD doesn’t get users high, however, and is primarily used for pain relief. Danny Grimm, the Salem grower who is expanding his business, was at the Portland conference with the blue rib- bons he won at the Oregon State Fair. “It’s a pretty big deal,” he said. r T UESDAY E VENING Economic buzz Nonetheless, the economic buzz of cannabis legalization escalates. At the annual Cannabis Col- laborative Conference in Port- land in February, vendors of all types displayed the technol- ogy, products and services that have sprung up in step with legalization. At one booth, a company called Root Sciences, with an office in Belfair, Wash., showed German-made dis- tillation equipment that pro- duces 99 percent pure canna- binoid oil concentrates for use in medical products or rec- reational edibles. One model sells for $159,000, which includes shipping, installation and training. Down another aisle at the convention, 69-year-old elec- trical contractor Gregory Fuller showed his mobile grow- ing unit. Fuller, of Federal Way, Wash., retrofitted a ship- ping container with LED grow lights and insulation. The unit’s electrical requirement is small enough that it can operate on 200-amp residential service. Plug and play, as it were. “This is agriculture,” Fuller said. “I can grow 2,000 pounds of lettuce in here a year.” But it’s pot growers he’s marketing to, and the units sell for $110,000. Fuller laughs Eric Mortenson/EO Media Group Veteran marijuana grower Joe Pietri warns new pot pro- ducers they must be able to match the efficiency of big nursery operations or “You won’t survive in this industry.” la THE DAILY ASTORIAN The federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Net- work, or FinCen, issued a 2014 guideline that allowed banks to work with state-legal can- nabis businesses that were fol- lowing the Cole Memorandum rules. But FinCen “put the onus of due diligence on the banks,” Rudolph said by email, and many financial institutions are unwilling to take that risk. ies Au xi Producers thinking about growing cannabis, however, should realize major questions have not yet been answered. Most critically, it is still ille- gal under federal law. On the books, marijuana is listed as a Schedule 1 controlled sub- stance. Cannabis activists say the ranking is ludicrous because it puts pot in the same category as heroin and LSD, while methamphetamine and cocaine are Schedule 2 drugs, a notch below. Current state-level legal- ization is based on a shoul- der-shrug interpretation of the August 2013 “Cole Memoran- dum,” named for James Cole, an assistant U.S. attorney gen- eral who wrote it. In the memo, the Obama administration essentially said it wouldn’t interfere, so long as states legalizing cannabis had “strong and effective reg- ulatory and enforcement sys- tems” in place. The administra- tion didn’t want pot available to minors, crossing into states that hadn’t legalized it and funding the operations of cartels and gangs. Growers, processors and retailers in Washington, Ore- gon, California and elsewhere took that as a sign to get busy. “Why did everyone just start blowing through this risk factor like they couldn’t care less?” a lawyer-blogger with Portland’s Emerge Law Group wrote. One reason was “the fact that so many people are involved in the industry now that there’s a feeling of safety in sheer num- bers. ‘What are they going to do? Arrest everyone?’” Probably not, the blogger concluded, but Trump and con- servative Attorney General Jeff Sessions could deliver a “big chill” if they decided to change course. On Feb. 24, Trump press secretary Sean Spicer said the Justice Department would pur- sue “greater enforcement” of laws regarding recreational-use marijuana. The offhand remark confused the situation. “Trump seems insistent on throwing the marijuana mar- ket back into the hands of crim- inals, wiping out tax-paying jobs and eliminating billions of dollars in taxes,” said Ethan Nadelmann, executive direc- tor of the Drug Policy Alliance. The group is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group that favors marijuana and other drug policies “grounded in sci- ence, compassion, health and human rights.” New Approach Oregon, the Portland group that backed and works to implement Oregon’s 2014 legalization of adult rec- reational cannabis use, called Spicer’s remarks “concerning.” But New Approach Director Anthony Johnson said Trump and Sessions hadn’t been heard from. “Greater enforcement by the Justice Department, if it does occur, could mean that the fed- eral government may just mon- itor state-regulated businesses more closely,” Johnson said in a prepared statement. “Poten- tially, federal charges could be brought if cannabis businesses violate state law and regula- tions, such as selling marijuana to minors under the age of 21.” The availability of capi- tal and banking services also are major questions for canna- bis producers, processors and retailers, because federally reg- ulated banks aren’t supposed to handle money from illegal businesses. Garrett Rudolph, editor of Marijuana Venture magazine, said banks’ relationship to the cannabis industry is “basically a giant gray area.” Lad What’s also abundant is the money and economic spin-off that accompanies legalization. Cannabis activists have long maintained pot is Oregon’s most valuable crop. While there aren’t official farm gate numbers available to back that up, a former Oregon State Uni- versity professor estimated in 2015 that the state’s pot crop was worth $948 million annu- ally, or more than the combined value of hazelnuts, pears, wine grapes, Christmas trees and blueberries. The 17 percent tax on rec- reational pot sales is an open spigot. The Oregon Depart- ment of Revenue received $5.3 million in tax payments in January 2017, and said it has received $65.4 million in can- nabis tax collections since Jan- uary 2016. After the depart- ment’s administrative costs are met, 40 percent of the tax revenue goes to the Com- mon School Fund, 20 percent to mental health, alcohol and drug services, and 15 percent to the Oregon State Police. Cit- ies, counties and other services split the remainder. Advocacy groups say pot legalization creates jobs. New Frontier Data, a Washington, D.C., analytics firm that spe- cializes in cannabis issues, esti- mated the sector would cre- ate more than 280,000 jobs by 2020. Adult cannabis use is now legal in eight states and in D.C., areas with a combined Eric Mortenson/EO Media Group Vendor Jenny Argie, left, of Brooklyn, rubs pain relieving medical cannabis lotion on Brian Bergmann’s hand during the recent Cannabis Collaborative Conference in Portland. The lotion is infused with non-psychoactive CBD oil, or cannabidiol, extracted from pot plants. er A m ic a n Most valuable crop? Eric Mortenson/EO Media Group Under the glow of cannabis grow lights, Uplifted Farm em- ployee Haley Dickerson changes out the nutrients in the Salem company’s flowering room. y “Absolutely,” he said. “It’s no different.” The guidelines, growing and cropping techniques involved in raising marijuana could be applied to grapes, tomatoes or anything else, he said. Individual producers may not favor pot farming, but the Oregon Department of Agri- culture has given its official approval. After voters legalized adult recreational production, possession and use in 2014, then-department Director Katy Coba famously declared, “Wel- come to the family.” Since then, the department has taken growers in hand to help them through the regulatory network. “It may not look the same as what we’re used to, but it’s definitely agriculture,” said Sunny Jones, a pesticide expert who was picked as the depart- ment’s cannabis policy coordi- nator. “That’s definitely been ODA’s take on the situation; it’s one more crop in the many crops that Oregon grows.” Jones said pot growers demonstrate a work ethic and problem-solving ability that traditional agriculturists would admire. “When many of us think of farmers, we think of some- one creative, someone who can keep the equipment run- ning with baling wire and duct tape,” she said. “That is abun- dant in the cannabis industry.” PER PLATE SEASIDE AMERICAN LEGION 1315 Broadway in Seaside P U B L I C W E L C O M E Proceeds Benefit High School Scholarships Evening listings TUESDAY M ARCH 14 PM 6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30 KATU News at 6 iheel of Fortune The Middle (N) Am.Housewife (N) Fresh Off-Boat (N) O'Neals (SF) (N) People Icons "Heroes and Survivors" (N) KATU News at 11 (:35) Jimmy Kimmel KOMO 4 News iheel of Fortune Jeopardy! The Middle (N) Am.Housewife (N) Fresh Off-Boat (N) O'Neals (SF) (N) People Icons "Heroes and Survivors" (N) KOMO 4 News (:35) Jimmy Kimmel NBC Nightly News KING 5 News KING 5 News Evening The Voice "The Blind Auditions" (N) This Is Us "Moonshadow" (SF) (N) Trial & Error (P) (N) Trial & Error (N) KING 5 News (:35) Tonight Show KOIN Local 6 at 6 CBS Evening News Extra Ent. Tonight NCIS "M.I.A." (N) NCIS: New O. "Swift, Silent, Deadly" (N) NCIS:NewOrleans "Slay the Dragon" (N) KOIN 6 News @ 11 (:35) S. Colbert KIRO 7 News CBS Evening News The Insider Ent. Tonight NCIS "M.I.A." (N) NCIS: New O. "Swift, Silent, Deadly" (N) NCIS:NewOrleans "Slay the Dragon" (N) KIRO News (:35) S. Colbert KGi News at 6:00 p.m. Live at 7 Inside Edition The Voice "The Blind Auditions" (N) This Is Us "Moonshadow" (SF) (N) Trial & Error (P) (N) Trial & Error (N) KGi News at 11 (:35) Tonight Show Last Man Standing Last Man Standing Modern Family Modern Family The Flash "Into the Speed Force" (N) Legends of Tomorrow "Moonshot" (N) KGi News at 10 Two and a Half Two and a Half Met Your Mother Ask-Old House Business (N) PBS NewsHour Nitty Gritty Celebrate the band's musical milestones and hits. American Masters "Patsy Cline" (N) Rock Rewind '67-'69 (N) 6 O'Clock News Family Feud Family Feud New Girl (N) The Mick Bones (N) 10 O'Clock News 11 O'Clock News 2 Broke Girls Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory FOX 12's 8 O'Clock News on PDX-TV FOX 12's 9 O'Clock News on PDX-TV Family Guy Family Guy American Dad Cleveland Show Modern Family Modern Family Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory New Girl (N) The Mick Bones (N) Q13 News at 10 Q13 News The Simpsons 2 Broke Girls 2 Broke Girls Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory The Detour Big Bang Theory Conan (N) Two and a Half Two and a Half Last Man Standng Last Man Standng Modern Family Modern Family Q13 News at 9 Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Friends Pt. 2 of 2 Friends Pt. 2 of 2 NCAA Basketball NIT Tournament (L) SportsCenter SportsCenter SportsCenter SportsCenter NCAA Basketball NIT Tournament (L) NCAA Basketball NIT Tournament First Round (L) Jalen & Jacoby College Basketball Jalen & Jacoby NFL Live Henry Danger Henry Danger The Thundermans The Thundermans Ride Game Shakers Full House Full House Full House Full House Friends Friends Bunk'd Bizaardvark Tangled "Tangled Before Ever After" (:05) Stuck Middle Good Luck Charlie Liv and Maddie Liv and Maddie Bunk'd Bunk'd Jessie Jessie Big Daddy (1999, Comedy) Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart, Adam Sandler. (5:30) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 ('12) Robert Pattinson. The Fosters "The Long Haul" (N) The 700 Club (5:00) The Fault in Our Stars ('14) Shailene Woodley. (:35) The Fault in Our Stars (2014, Drama) Ansel Elgort, Willem Dafoe, Shailene Woodley. (:15) FXM Presents The Banger Sisters ('02) Susan Sarandon, Goldie Hawn. Little iomen: LA "Sail Away" Little iomen: LA "Ballroom Blitz" Little iomen: LA "Tough Crowd" (N) Little iomen "Things Fall Apart" (N) Pop Game "You've Got The Look" (N) Little iomen: LA "Things Fall Apart" Snow Motion Flag Football MLB Baseball Spring Training Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners Site: Peoria Stadium -- Peoria, Ariz. MLS Soccer Seattle Sounders FC at Montreal Impact Boxing Premier Champions (L) UFC Main Event "Silva vs. Bisping" Speak for Yourself Skip and Shannon: Undisputed Opinions on the biggest sports topics of the day. (4:30) The Expendables ('10, Act) Jet Li. The Expendables 3 (2014, Action) Jason Statham, Jet Li, Sylvester Stallone. Adam Carolla Builds The Expendables 3 Sylvester Stallone. Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama Tosh.0 Tosh.0 Tosh.0 Tosh.0 Tosh.0 (N) Detroiters (N) The Daily Show (N) @midnight (N) The Curse of Oak Island The Curse of Oak Island Curse of Oak Island The Curse of Oak Island Hunting Hitler The Curse of Oak Island The First 48 "Night Shift/ Mobbed" The First 48 "On Ice/ Overkill" Juvenile Lifers Kids Behind Bars "Maximum Security" Kids Behind Bars "Lost for Life" Killer Kids Say Yes-Dress Say Yes-Dress Big Fat Fabulous Li. "I Kissed a Girl" Big Life "Whitney Calls in Backup" (N) Big Fat Fab. "Big Girl Dance Battle" (N) She's In Charge "Pooh's the Boss" (N) (:05) Big Fat Fab. "Big Girl Dance Battle" Moonshiners Moonshiners: Cuts "Intruder Alert" (N) Mnshiner "The Legend of Tim Smith" (N) Moonshiners "Last Call" (N) Fields "The Baton Rouge Serial Killer" Moonshiners "Last Call" Climbing Redwood Giants America's National Parks "Olympic" America's Parks "Gates of the Arctic" iater & Power: A California Heist (N) iater & Power: A California Heist Con Air (1997, Action) John Cusack, John Malkovich, Nicolas Cage. Thor (2011, Action) Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth. Godzilla ('14, Act) Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011, Action) Jude Law, Jared Harris, Robert Downey Jr.. Inception ('10, Action) Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. (4:00) Sherlock Holmes Chrisley Knows Chrisley Knows Chrisley Knows Chrisley Knows iiE Smackdown! WWE superstars do battle in long-running rivalries. Chrisley Knows (N) Chrisley Knows Modern Family Modern Family Chopped "Nopales, No Problem" Chopped "Count Your Chickens" Chopped Chopped "Chili Cook-Off" Chopped "Latin Cuisine Dream" (N) Chopped "Taco Time!" Fixer Upper Fixer "Sweet Surprise at the Silos" Fixer Upper Fixer "Rustic Italian Dream Home" (N) House Hunters (N) House Hunters (N) Fixer Upper (5:00) Taken 2 ('12, Action) Liam Neeson. Jack Reacher (2012, Action) Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Tom Cruise. The Americans "Pests" (N) The Americans "Pests" Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Tonight iith Don Lemon CNN Tonight iith Don Lemon Anderson Cooper 360 Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Tonight iith Don Lemon Tucker Carlson Tonight Hannity The O'Reilly Factor Tucker Carlson Tonight Hannity The First 100 Days Shark Tank The Partner "What's Your Story?" (N) Shark Tank Shark Tank The Partner "What's Your Story?" Paid Program Paid Program Beverly Hills "Feeding a Need" Beverly Hills "Cake Therapy" Beverly Hills Social (N) Beverly Hills (N) Imposters (N) iatchihat (N) Beverly Hills (5:00) Klute (1971, Suspense) Jane Fonda. The French Connection ('71) Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey, Gene Hackman. Night Moves (1975, Mystery) Susan Clark, Melanie Griffith, Gene Hackman. Shaft ('71, Cri) Richard Roundtree. Zombieland (2009, Action) Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson. Face Off "Odd Couples" (N) (5:10) Jonah Hex ('10, Act) Josh Brolin. Drive Angry (2011, Action) Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Nicolas Cage. (5:30) Cattlemen (N) Chasing (N) Horsemanship "Square Pen Control" Chris Cox Rural Eve. News Ag PhD Cattlemen to Cattlemen Chasing-Madison Product Showcase
