The daily Astorian., August 24, 2017, Page 11, Image 21

AUGUST 24, 2017 // 11
Jaw-dropping
It’s a strange mix of retail and science.
Hannah Hayes of Oregon Coast Cannabis
in Manzanita says employee training is key
to providing a space where anyone can feel
comfortable asking questions.
“With our budtenders, we focus on
education so anyone working here can talk
to you about THC or terpines and how these
different things are going to affect you,” she
said, adding that employees of any dispen-
sary must have a worker permit through Or-
egon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC),
much like any bartender.
Additionally, all product in Oregon dis-
pensaries must be grown in Oregon, adding
to the all-important sustainability factor.
The next great craft industry?
Izaak Hawkins of Hi Cascade Astoria
thinks drawing tourist crowds with canna-
bis will help educate a larger section of the
populace to the economic potential.
He also feels that tourists who come to
Oregon specifi cally for cannabis can help
dispel negative preconceptions.
“Having tourism use will really help
people sort through information about the
industry,” he said. “I think it will do a lot of
good for the normalization of cannabis use.”
Marketing for cannabis tourism is remi-
niscent of beer and wine campaigns.
Portland’s Kush Tours and Oregon Weed
Tours specialize in cannabis group tours,
while “Bed, Bud and Breakfast” packages
are being offered in Ashland.
Each emphasize the use of a designated
driver.
Publications are taking notice as evi-
denced by Willamette Week’s “The Pot-
lander: A Discerning Cannabis Consumer’s
Guide to Portland.”
Hayes thinks tourism is an opportunity to
help people shed notions about some of the
taboos associated with cannabis and said her
business promotes a healthy lifestyle.
“We defi nitely see cannabis as Oregon’s
next great craft industry,” she said.
Too early to tell
Clatsop County District Attorney Josh
Marquis, a vocal opponent of Measure 91,
which legalized the use of recreational mar-
ijuana, accepts that voters have spoken on
the matter, but notes that it will take years to
fully measure what effect, if any, widespread
legalization has had.
“Marijuana is still a drug, albeit now a
legal one for adults,” Marquis said. “We are
seeing more (automobile) crashes where
marijuana is the primary intoxicant, but
many of those crashes are poly-pharmacy —
meaning more than one drug, often includ-
ing alcohol.”
Nan Devlin, Director of Tourism at Visit
Tillamook Coast, says tracking cannabis
tourism is still in its infancy.
COLIN MURPHEY/THE DAILY ASTORIAN
Local dispensary owners describe the pot tourism industry as one of untapped potential.
“For tourism, it’s too early to tell,” she
said. “But Oregon did collect $65.4 million
in state revenue the fi rst year.”
Colorado, another weed-legal state, pro-
vides a case study for cannabis tourism.
“In Colorado, one survey noted that just 4
percent of tourism is directly related to trav-
el for the use of legal weed,” Devlin said,
noting that Denver’s tourism visitor counts
increased by one million in
the last year alone.
Destination hurdles
facility, which was legally authorized, ex-
ploded last year, badly burning an owner and
an employee. That owner, plus a co-owner,
recently pleaded guilty to felony assault in
the third degree and misdemeanor reckless
endangerment because of the incident.
Marquis has strongly criticized the Ore-
gon Health Authority for issuing a license to
the facility without fi rst inspecting it.
Illegal activity,
policing problems
Marquis noted a January
‘OREGON HAS
Signifi cant hurdles re-
2017 draft report issued by
A HISTORY
main in categorizing Oregon
the Oregon State Police and
OF CANNABIS
a pot tourism destination.
High Intensity Drug Task
AND THERE’S
Statewide, consumers
Force that points to wide-
cannot smoke in public
spread illegal diversion of
A CULTURE OF
places, unlike in Colorado,
legally grown marijuana out
PEOPLE
WHO
which has specifi c gathering
of state and outside the U.S.
HAVE BEEN
spots, or “social lounges,”
It states: “Oregon origi-
GROWING FOR nated cannabis is traffi cked
set aside for users.
GENERATIONS.’ to known distribution hubs
Another hitch for pot
travelers: Cannabis pur-
across the Southeastern,
chased in Oregon must be
Midwestern, and Northeast-
consumed in Oregon. Cross-
ern United States. Specifi -
ing state lines, even to another weed-legal
cally, the states of Illinois, Minnesota, New
state, is a federal crime.
York, and Florida represent statistically
When it comes to individual advertising,
signifi cant destinations.”
stores like Hi Cascade Astoria and Oregon
The argument of many Measure 91
Coast Cannabis are faced with multiple
proponents, he added, was that taxation
restrictions.
and regulation would cause black market
Dispensaries must be able show that their operations to vanish.
audience is 21 and older, and certain product
“That has not happened,” Marquis said.
warnings must be prominent.
“There is still lots of illegal activity but real-
Hayes said that even the use of common
ly no law enforcement ability to police it.”
ad boosting tools on Facebook or Google is
Considering these factors, Oregon travel
not allowed.
organizations have not marketed legal weed
Legal distribution has gradually become
and have no immediate plans to do so.
easier, but restrictions on public consump-
In a 2016 statement, Linea Gagliano
tion and advertising remain at the forefront
of Travel Oregon summed up tourism ad
of the discussion.
campaign priorities: “For now, we’re going
There’s also the issue of safety. An
to stick with those things that we know are
Astoria cannabis butane hash oil production
compelling reasons to visit Oregon.”
Because cannabis dispensaries are
required to check customer’s identifi cation,
the ability to see who is coming from where
is easy.
Like most retail operations on the Ore-
gon Coast, cannabis sales spike consider-
ably during the summer months, and Hayes
said it’s not uncommon to see out-of-state
and even international IDs.
“The most fun is when you meet some-
one from a state that’s still really deep in
prohibition and seeing the jaw drop when
they walk in,” she said, adding that she has
met many travelers who have planned their
entire vacation around visiting multiple
Oregon dispensaries.
Hi Cascade Astoria is part of a small
chain that also has stores in Portland,
Salem and Eugene with coastal outlets in
Rockaway Beach, Depoe Bay and Wald-
port.
At the coastal stores, Hawkins witnessed
a signifi cant uptick in summer sales.
“The Waldport location was seeing 100
to 120 people a day easily,” he said, noting
that the winter visits dropped to about 20 or
30 a day, the majority being local.
Out-of-state dispensary customers are
not unlike those you would fi nd sampling
the wares at a wine shop.
Instead of a sip, dispensaries encourage
customers to have a good sniff.
Hawkins and Hayes think out-of-town-
ers enjoy that aspect.
“It tends to be a really friendly, energet-
ic, happy exchange,” Hawkins said.
‘When the walls come down’
Hayes notes it’s not uncommon to see
outdoor enthusiasts come through her doors
during the summer months.
“We’ve had many hikers heading to
Neahkahnie Mountain who are looking for
a fun edible to try,” she said.
As dispensary owners look ahead to
what seems to be untapped potential for
cannabis tourism, there is tempered opti-
mism.
Both Hayes and Hawkins talk of con-
sumer education leading to changes in
legislation.
“If we pass something similar to Col-
orado in terms of legal consumption, you
might see more tourist-based businesses be-
coming cannabis-oriented,” Hawkins said,
naming options such as cannabis-based
hotels, spas, or campgrounds.
Hayes thinks defi ning what Oregon
cannabis is and protecting is vital to the
industry’s future.
“Oregon has a history of cannabis and
there’s a culture of people who have been
growing for generations,” she said. “When
the walls start coming down, Oregon can-
nabis will be highly sought after.” CW