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.
Access would be from Guig-
nard Road, and the prelimi-
nary design sets aside park-
ing for about 40 cars. Stirn
emphasized it would qualify
JEFF SACRE
3R -ORTGAGE 3PECIALIST
NMLS-140302, MLO-140302
/FFICE
(541)
#ELL
This is not a committment to lend. Information deemed reliable but subject
to change without notice. Consumer Loan License NMLS-3240, CL-3240
Explore the world
with Odyssey
Tours by Liz!
PROPOSED PARK PROPERTY on Guignard Road, just southeast of
the transfer station property. This view looks south to Mt. Hood. At
left is a building in neighboring property, formerly Italstone.
as a community park, not a
neighborhood park, meaning
most users would travel
there by car or other means.
The district has met with
County Planning to discuss
applying for a conditional
use permit to develop the
property.
The projected cost, includ-
ing land acquisition, is $2
million. The key funding
piece would be State Parks’
HOODRIVERHOMES.COM
Your Oregon & Washington Broker
River City
Tom Jenkins
CRS, GRI
541-490-6045
$494,000 “Local Government
Grant” originally designated
for the Barrett Park site. The
district would also look at
funds from systems develop-
ment charges, which are util-
ity-related fees used for pub-
lic projects that are charged
for new construction.
Western Wildflowers and Gardens
of Texas Tour: April 4-11, 2016
Odyssey Cruises the Greek Isles aboard
the luxurious Azamara Journey: May 23-June 4, 2016
Odyssey and Collette Tours present “Discovering
Poland”: August 18-29, 2016
The Pines Winery and Klindt’s Booksellers present
“Bubbly, Burgundy, and Provence”, a wine tour of
France: September 1-12, 2016
Odyssey and Scenic River Cruises present
“Highlights of the Rhine”, a luxury Rhine River cruise
and pre-tour to Lucerne, Switerzland:
September 16-26, 2016
OdysseyTours
BY LIZ
LLC.
For more information, please go to our website at
www.odysseytoursbyliz.com, email me at
clarkliz@outlook.com, call 541-980-8827
or find us on Facebook.
Calling All
Softball Players
Building a NEW Gorge team of motivated
softball players.
12U ASA Tryouts for the 2016 Spring Season for
the new Gorge Softball team will be held in August.
For information on tryout date location and time, call
Coach Tonya Schroeder at (541)705-7217