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THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, FEbRuARy 10, 2022
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
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Circulation Manager
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Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
Do more to fight illicit pot trade
T
he legalization of recre-
ational marijuana in Ore-
gon has generated millions
of dollars in tax revenue for the
state, but rather than curtailing the
black-market trade, as was prom-
ised, it has spurred the production
of illegal weed across the state.
That, in turn, has caused untold
problems for honest landowners and
unwitting foreign workers pressed
to tend the crops.
The state has failed in its obliga-
tion to stem the flow of illegal mar-
ijuana and to protect the people of
Oregon against the ravages of that
trade.
The burgeoning illicit mari-
juana industry has had devastating
impacts on rural Oregon and agri-
culture. Illegal marijuana growers
have stolen water, polluted the land
and water, violated land use laws,
driven up farmland prices, caused
labor problems and endangered
citizens.
Although new state laws and
added funding are helping law
enforcement officers deal with the
issues, farmers and community
leaders say more still needs to be
done.
Eight years ago, when voters
approved an initiative that legalized
the regulated production, sale and
possession of marijuana, it was sold
as a win-win situation.
The state was to get millions in
new tax revenue to pay for educa-
Kile Henrich
Living conditions at an unlicensed Oregon marijuana operation. In the center lies the
remains of a pig carcass workers had been carving for food.
WE AGREE THAT THE FEdERAL GOVERNMENT
NEEdS TO STEP uP ITS ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.
buT THE STATE NEEdS TO dEVOTE MORE
OF ITS LEGAL MARIJuANA PROFITS TOWARd
REGuLATORy ANd LAW ENFORCEMENT.
tion, mental health, alcoholism and
drug services, the state police and
drug treatment. Because marijuana
remains illegal under federal law,
an intense regulatory and licensing
regime was supposed to keep legal
marijuana out of black-market dis-
tribution channels and stepped up
enforcement would check the state’s
robust illicit marijuana production.
Only part of that scenario has
come true.
Revenue projections have
exceeded supporters’ wildest
dreams as legal sales have topped
$1.1 billion per year.
In fiscal 2016, the state collected
$20.6 million in taxes from the
fledgling legal industry, according
to the Oregon Department of Rev-
enue. For fiscal 2021, which ended
in October, the state raked in more
than $178 million. Cities and coun-
ties that have imposed their own
taxes reaped more than $28 million
from the legal drug trade during the
same period.
Yet, the illicit trade continues to
boom. Law enforcement sources
say the value of illegal weed —
grown in many cases by foreign
drug cartels — far exceeds that
produced by regulated growers.
During raids in 2021 alone, accord-
ing to public records, southern Ore-
gon officials across four counties
— Jackson, Douglas, Klamath and
Josephine — seized pot exceeding
$2.7 billion in value.
Criminal growers are stealing
water, infringing on the rights of
farmers who produce legitimate
crops. Unfettered by environmen-
tal regulations and good steward-
ship practices, they lay on fertilizers
and pesticides without regard to the
potential ecological damage.
They have held foreign workers
impressed to tend the crop in virtual
slavery. Local property owners have
been threatened and are wary of
sharing information with police.
Police and the regulatory agen-
cies are overwhelmed.
We agree that the federal govern-
ment needs to step up its enforce-
ment efforts. But the state needs to
devote more of its legal marijuana
profits toward regulatory and law
enforcement.
It’s time for the state to fulfill its
obligation to protect the people of
Oregon.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Get the facts
’ve been a Gearhart taxpayer since
1987, with 20-plus years of going to
City Council and Planning Commission
meetings.
In 2015, Gearhart assembled a fire sta-
tion committee to find the best location
for a new fire and police station, going by
state and federal codes for tsunamis and
earthquakes. There were three-plus years
of public meetings before we presented
our findings to the City Council.
Our top choice: Lesley Miller Dunes
Meadow Park. Not because it’s a park or
has an ocean view, but because it’s close
to city center, was the highest point (at
the time), and was already Gearhart prop-
erty costing about $5 million. It wasn’t
about feelings, but about the safety of our
citizens and costs.
It was rejected. There was outcry by
some, because it’s a park, even though
it was to take up only a small portion of
Gearhart-owned park property.
The High Point property came up for
sale, at $3 million to $4 million just for
the property. After the city spent thou-
sands testing the ground, the owner
decided not to sell to Gearhart.
Now, we’re at the Highlands Lane sta-
tion, a higher point, further inland and
with a higher cost. The longer we wait,
the more it’ll cost … substantially!
I certainly hope those fighting against
a new fire station all this time realize the
substantial amount they’ve cost Gearhart
taxpayers, whether it passes or not. Five
million dollars at the park then, and now
almost $15 million. Next year?
All City Council and Planning Com-
mission meetings are open to the public.
Get the facts!
TOM THIES
Gearhart
I
Hold on
n response to Matt Janes’ letter, “Go
fly a kite” (The Astorian, Feb. 3): Hold
on.
Let’s consider President Joe Biden’s
accomplishments under very unusual cir-
cumstances. Normally, a new administra-
tion is welcomed into the White House
to speed the transition from the previ-
ous administration immediately after an
election.
Since former President Donald Trump
would not concede, nearly three months
was lost. Then because of that, probably
three months more lost to catch up, which
didn’t begin until Inauguration Day.
Biden immediately signed executive
orders eliminating what he considered
bad policy, rejoined the Paris climate
I
LETTERS WELCOME
Letters should be exclusive to The
Astorian. Letters should be fewer
than 250 words and must include the
writer’s name, address and phone
number. You will be contacted to
confirm authorship. All letters are
subject to editing for space, gram-
mar and factual accuracy. Only two
letters per writer are allowed each
month. Letters written in response
accord and reset our relationship with
NATO and world leaders.
He and the Democrats passed the
American Rescue Plan, which saved our
economy from collapsing. The corona-
virus raging, he managed to get vaccines
into hundreds of thousands of people’s
arms with rather great efficiency.
Don’t blame him for anti-vaccine pro-
paganda or inflation and supply chain
to other letter writers should address
the issue at hand and should refer to
the headline and date the letter was
published. Discourse should be civil.
Send via email to editor@dailyasto-
rian.com, online at bit.ly/astorianlet-
ters, in person at 949 Exchange St.
in Astoria or mail to Letters to the
Editor, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR.,
97103.
issues. They are economics 101, supply
and demand, results of a worldwide shut
down.
With his leadership, Congress passed
the long-awaited infrastructure bill.
Trump gave tax breaks to the rich, dis-
mantled and demoralized a lot of admin-
istrative departments such as the National
Security Agency, State Department and
Department of Justice. Biden was tasked
with putting all that back together again,
the Humpty Dumpty scenario.
Admittedly, Afghanistan was a disas-
ter, but he’s human. We make mistakes.
No president would have made that a
clean withdrawal.
Give the guy a break. He deserves a
lot of credit — and that was just his first
year — minus six months, in my opinion.
BONNIE LIVELY
Astoria
Moral bankruptcy
rom the Feb. 2 online edition of The
Oregonian, the following headline:
“Portland traffic crashes report: 70% of
pedestrians killed were homeless.”
Does it follow that 70% of pedestrians
seen these days on downtown streets are
homeless, or does it only seem that way?
The value our society at large places
on human life is a national disgrace, and
an indication of moral bankruptcy.
GARY DURHEIM
Seaside
F