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About The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2015)
www.hoodrivernews.com Hood River News, Wednesday, July 1, 2015 A9 Pot legal, selling it’s not Oregon law allows recreational growth, possession; Hood River dispensaries, police prep for changes By PATRICK MULVIHILL News staff writer A historic Oregon pot law that passed last No- vember bloomed today — Oregon joins Washington, Colorado and Alaska as the fourth U.S. state that allows recreational mari- juana. Oregonians 21 or over can now possess or grow cannabis for recreational use. However, the mechan- ics of how legal marijua- na will be sold and taxed is still being hammered out in Salem. As of now, recreational sales are ille- gal. T he marijuana law, Measure 91, cleared Hood River County by a fairly wide margin — 57.3 per- cent said yes and 42.7 per- cent said no, compared to the narrower statewide vote of 56 percent versus 44 percent. The following is now legal under Oregon law: ■ Possession of recre- ational marijuana for users who are 21 and older. ■ Possession of up to 8 ounces of marijuana, or 1 ounce away from home. ■ Growing up to four plants of marijuana at home, as long as they re- main out of public view. However, public use re- mains illegal, as does dri- ving under the influence of marijuana. Most notable on the list of what’s illegal is com- mercial marijuana sales. The Oregon Liquor Con- trol Commission, which has been tasked with reg- ulating the burgeoning in- dustry, hasn’t established a way for stores to sell their product — so it re- mains against the law to buy or sell marijuana. Recreational pot shops likely won’t open their doors until next year. The Oregon Legislature is planning to roll out a sys- tem with a 20 percent tax on recreational sales, starting in late 2016. Though roughly 324 medical dispensaries are sprinkled across Oregon, none of them currently have a commercial recre- ational license. There are two medical marijuana dispensaries in Hood River: The Gorge Green Cross, which opened last March, and Mt. View Naturals, which came in August. Both are located downtown: Mt. View Naturals on Wasco Street and Green Cross on State Street. Mike Rachford, co- owner and operator of The Gorge Green Cross, said both dispensaries are considering adding a com- mercial component if it becomes possible. “It’ll be interesting to see,” said Rachford. “At this point in time the Ore- gon Health Authority (OHA), the state, is trying to allow (dispensaries) to ational (sales), your flow could potentially double,” said Rachford. “On the business side, it does make sense, but we don’t want to be overrun. “We have established a really nice medical base. That was our primary goal … to help people,” said Rachford. He suggested an “ex- press lane” system which would allow medical pa- tients to take top priority marijuana across the Washington border into Oregon. “That’ll be harder to en- force. Will people get it across state lines? They probably will,” Cheli said. “Now that it’s legal in both states, we’re not going to know exactly where it came from — it’s just marijuana.” Hood River Police offi- cers have pulled over Washington drivers and A RT O N O AK The owners of Hood River’s newest gallery, are surrounded by works in Art on Oak, 201 Oak St., which holds its grand opening on July 3, during 5-8 p.m. First Friday. The gallery is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 20 artists are represented at the gallery, oper- ated by Michael Scrivens, left, Jill Warilla and Noelle Newton . The Ale List Solog Fest returns By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA News editor Submitted photo MARIJUANA SAMPLES displayed for sale at Gorge Green Cross. sell to the general public.” State lawmakers are considering an early-sales program that would allow existing medical marijua- na dispensaries to sell a small range of products to recreational users start- ing Oct. 1 — near the start of the annual marijuana harvest. The bill would allow customers to buy one-quar ter ounce of dried marijuana buds and leaves per day. Currently, dispensaries like Green Cross suffer from a federal tax code amendment passed in 1982, Section 280E, which bans all tax deductions and credit to businesses “trafficking in controlled substances.” Because marijuana is still a Sched- ule I controlled substance in the eyes of federal law, dispensaries fall under that heading. “It’s basically a 70 per- cent tax rate,” said Rach- ford. Moving to recreational marijuana could be more lucrative for small med- ical dispensaries, but the change is also fraught with complications. Ac- cording to Rachford, ap- plying for the license is expensive and risky be- cause the OHA hasn’t fi- nalized its standards yet. Also at issue would be juggling the needs of med- ical patients with the de- mand of increased recre- ational business. “If you added the recre- when making purchases. This could be vital, con- sidering there are about 300 medical card holders in Hood River County and 400 in Wasco. Gorge Green Cross gets some patients from The Dalles, as well as from tourists who have a medical card. Rachford said more dis- pensaries have expressed an interest in moving into Hood River, but much re- mains unclear legally as to how they’ll operate, and how they would bal- ance medical and recre- ational aspects of cannabis sales. Police brace for mari- juana legalization On the law enforcement side of recreational mari- juana, police departments are also waiting for clear- er guidelines from the state. “We are just as interest- ed as the public to see where this goes,” said Hood River Police Sgt. Don Cheli. Police will still be en- forcing public marijuana use and citing high dri- vers. Also illegal is trans- porting marijuana be- tween states — that vio- lates federal law, which classifies marijuana as a Class I controlled sub- stance. However, Cheli indicat- ed that it would be prob- lematic for local police to stop people from bringing issued violations for car- rying marijuana, but the stops usually end in “edu- cating” the visitors, citing them and sending them on their way. “My big g est wor ry about this is the DUI side of it,” Cheli said. “I do think that the number for DUIs for marijuana are going to go up.” Cheli said many people are unaware that drivers can be cited for something other than alcohol — namely marijuana or pre- scription drugs. Traffic stops for marijuana play out in the same way as those for alcohol, with of- ficers conducting atten- tion, sight and balance tests. The only difference is that local officers will call in a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) from the Oregon State Police to verify the driver is high, and to provide the District Attorney with more con- clusive evidence of drug use. Last year, the Hood River Police Department counted 120 cases of Dri- ving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, some of which included marijua- na or a combination of drugs. “We do get a lot of mar- ijuana citations and ar- rests. But I’d say meth, heroin, and (prescription drugs) are just as much, if not more of an issue. We’re getting those on a weekly basis,” said Cheli. The second annual Solog Festival will return to Park- dale on an August date to be announced, said brewer Jason Kahler of one of two breweries involved in the col- labora-fest, Solera Brewery of Parkdale and Logsdon Farmhouse Ales of Hood River. Watch The Ale List for details. Meanwhile, the folks at Lo gsdon are g radually equipping their new down- town taproom, at Third and Cascade streets. New furni- ture is in, the old surfboards from the Idlewilde Market days are gone, but the region- al beer signs are still in the window and Idlewilde name on the front. No word on opening date. Lo gsdon, which will continue to brew at Dave Logsdon’s family farmhouse near Odell, has been planning its downtown expansion since late 2014. ‘Portland’ likes Hood River beers Hood River breweries fared well in Portland Maga- zine’s July edition as it pumps up Oregon Craft Beer Week with articles including “25 Ore gon beers we’ re crushing for.” Three of those 25 crush-worthy libations are from Hood River: Double Mountain Kolsch, Full Sail Session Black, and pFriem Family Brewing Belgian Strong Blond. ‘Weird Beer’ fest comes July 11 Things are about to get weird along the Columbia River waterfront in Washou- gal. Weird Beer on the River will be coming to Marina Park at the Por t of Camas/Washougal on July 10 and 11. The tasting event has attracted 23 local and re- gional beer and cider brew- eries and is challenging them to create and serve their weirdest brew made from ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, candy, seafood, and even insects (food-grade, or course). Proceeds from the event will benefit the CDM Care- giving Services, a non-profit agency providing in-home care, adult day services, and other supports for veterans, seniors and people with dis- abilities in southwest Wash- ington, in an effort to keep them living in their own home. “Fundraising should be fun, and our committee, our brewers, and our sponsors all thought this was one of the more unique ideas to raise money for a great cause,” said Eric Erickson, Executive Director of CDM Caregiving Services. Weird Beer on the River costs $20 per day, which includes a tasting glass and six tokens for 4 ounce tastes of the weirdest beers ever, organiz- ers promise. The event is 21- and-over only. Advance tickets are $17 if purchased before July 8 and are available online at cdm- c a r e g iv i n g . o r g / e v e n t s / we i r d - b e e r- o n - t h e - r ive r. Hours are Friday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Saturday noon to 9 p.m. There will be food ven- dors, picnic tables and live music with rotating bands throughout both evenings. Shop Local the Gorge $ONT GET 4!+%. #ALL *EFF FOR HIS VERY PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS (OME 0URCHASES s 2ElNANCES s %QUITY ,INES HR Parks District presents Guignard Road park proposal By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA News editor A new park for the south part of Hood River took one step closer to reality last week. Negotiations are still in progress on the deal, but re- ception at last week’s meet- ing hosted by Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District indicates broad pub- lic support for an 8.3 acre park on Guignard Road near the Hood River transfer sta- tion. The property is currently zoned light industrial, which Parks District director Lori Stirn acknowledged could be an issue with development, though the property has been on the market for about five years, and the district has a willing seller in Joyce Reinig. Stirn said Reinig, a char- ter member of the Gorge Scenic Area commission, looks upon establishment of the park as a legacy in mem- Joe Guenther Financial Advisor 1631 Woods Ct Suite 102 Hood River, OR 97031 541-386-0826 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC ory of her husband, Don, who died in 2011. Stirn and board members Glenna Mahurin and Art Carroll attended the meeting at Port of Hood River offices, where a dozen or so people expressed support for the main intended use, ball fields to be used for soccer, lacrosse, and potentially soft- ball. Six members of the new, and growing, Gorge Pickle- ball Association attended, and told district officials that they’d like to see four or more pickleball courts estab- lished there. Stirn presented a preliminary design of the property that incorporated such courts. The land is mostly flat, though it contains a wetland that would likely be pre- served and incorporated into the park, according to Stirn. 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