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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 7, 2015)
Page 4A STATE East Oregonian Tuesday, April 7, 2015 Medical pot businesses stand to lose under regulation By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau SALEM — Oregon’s medical marijuana businesses stand to lose money under tighter regulations proposed by state lawmakers. Testimony in Salem recently focused on how patients would suf- fer if lawmakers pass legislation to limit the size of medical pot gardens and require tracking of cannabis so it doesn’t leak into the black mar- ket. Lawmakers are considering the medical program changes as Ore- gon prepares for the legalization of pot for all adults age 21 and older starting July 1, and the debate has revealed divisions between differ- ent cannabis business interests in the state. Legislators claim the vast ma- jority of marijuana produced under that program is sold by growers on the black market. Privately, business owners who KDYH SUR¿WHG IURP 2UHJRQ¶V PHG- ical marijuana system acknowl- edged new regulations would also impact their enterprises. Oregon’s medical marijuana program was created by voters in 1998 to help sick people. Many medical marijuana growers provide free pot to patients through arrange- ments that provided legal cover for large pot gardens over the years when the medical program was the only sanctioned way to grow canna- bis in Oregon. At any one time, medical mari- juana cardholders can have six ma- ture plants and 18 immature plants. Or, cardholders can hire a grower to produce the crop under the same limits. Each grower can serve four patients, but multiple growers often share grow sites. Anthony Johnson, chief peti- tioner and co-author of Measure 91 which legalized recreational pot, KHOSVJURZHUV¿QGSDWLHQWVWKURXJK his consulting business Duff John- Pamplin Media Group Medical marijuana businesses stand to lose money under tighter regulations being proposed in the Oregon Legislature. son Consulting. “It’s really a small part of Duff Johnson Consulting and hopefully over time will be a service that’s no longer needed to be provided,” Johnson said of the matchmaking service on Monday. Johnson said the business earns more of its mon- ey from consulting with medical marijuana clinics and organizing conferences. Brent Kenyon, a businessman in Medford, operates 17 medical marijuana clinics and three dispen- saries around the state. Kenyon did not say directly whether plant limits and the availability of legal pot for all adults would hurt his businesses. However, Kenyon said “it’s a no brainer” for people to sign up for the medical marijuana program when they can receive free marijua- na from growers who sell the excess pot to dispensaries. The new recre- ational system means growers will no longer have to line up patients to justify large gardens, and tighter regulations on medical marijuana could further tamp down the indus- try. “The problem is we have so may (medical) growers now that are gonna jump ship,” said Kenyon, who also helps connect patients with growers. Low-income patients depend on this system to obtain their medicine, patients and members of the indus- try said. State lawmakers and regulators want to move the largest pot gar- dens in the state into the new rec- reational marijuana system that will legalize, regulate and tax pot for all adults under the authority of the Or- egon Liquor Control Commission. The Oregon medical marijuana program allowed huge gardens to blossom in southern Oregon, in- cluding one that served 104 patients with California addresses in 2014, The Oregonian reported in October. Rob Patridge, chairman of the Oregon Liquor Control Commis- sion, has estimated as much as 75 percent of weed grown under the medical program leaks into the black market. Tom Towslee, an OLCC spokesman, said this was based on Patridge’s conversations with unnamed medical marijuana growers. Regulators and lawmakers have said they must take steps so that the legal recreational market can suc- ceed and to show federal law en- forcement the state is doing its best to prevent Oregon producers from feeding the black market. The bills lawmakers are consid- ering would limit medical marijua- na grows to 24 to 48 plants outside FLW\ OLPLWV DQG IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH track the path of medical marijuana from growers to processors, dispen- saries and patients. Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ash- land, introduced House Bill 3400 which would limit medical grows to 48 mature plants per rural grow site. Senate Bill 936, sponsored by several senators and representa- tives from the Joint Committee On Implementing Measure 91, would limit rural medical gardens to 24 mature plants. Both would cap pot gardens inside city limits at 12 ma- ture plants. Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, consulted with cannabis industry lawyer Amy Margolis during the development of Senate Bill 936. Margolis is part of the Cannabis PAC, formerly known as Grow PAC, which represents marijua- na businesses across the state and is lobbying for the state to allow co-location of recreational and medical marijuana sales. “As you know, the Cannabis 3$&KDVWDNHQQRRI¿FLDOSRVLWLRQ on plant counts and that was not my role in those meetings,” Margolis wrote in an email Monday. Rather, Margolis wrote that her role was to provide input on the practical appli- cation of regulations. Associated Press Margolis’ name was in the news recently, after it was revealed that OLCC pot czar Tom Burns was ¿UHG IRU O\LQJ DERXW D UHJXODWRU\ proposal by members of the medi- cal marijuana industry which Burns forwarded to Margolis. The proposal came from Ken- yon, Johnson and Anthony Taylor, co-founder and legislative liaison for Compassionate Oregon, which describes itself as a patient advoca- cy organization. The trio generated the proposal after a March 12 meet- ing with Patridge, the OLCC chair- man. It included an exemption from tracking for growers with 24 or fewer plants, although those grow- ers could apply for permits to sell their excess weed to dispensaries or recreational pot stores. The group also called for the Oregon Health Authority to set up a program to help cover the cost of marijuana for low-income patients who no longer received free or reduced price pot, and the trio said they would like to form a new group with the OLCC to continue work on the issues. It’s unclear now what the OLCC and lawmakers will do with the medical pot industry’s proposal, but Burdick said she expects the marijuana industry will continue to care for patients who need cannabis products. “I think the industry has been very good at taking care of patients’ needs, and I expect that to contin- ue,” Burdick said. Burdick said lawmakers plan to move ahead soon with a bill on plant limits and tracking for medi- cal growers. “We expect this one to move ¿UVW´%XUGLFNVDLGRIDELOOWKDWZLOO address those questions. Then, Bur- dick said lawmakers can turn their full attention back to implementing the new recreational system. The Capital Bureau is a collab- oration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Even if a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this spring makes same-sex marriage the law, it would leave pockets of the country where it isn’t likely to be recognized any time soon: the reservations of a handful of sovereign Native American tribes, including the nation’s two largest. Since 2011, as the num- ber of states recognizing such unions spiked to 37, at least six smaller tribes have revisited and let stand laws WKDWGH¿QHPDUULDJHDVEHLQJ between a man and a wom- an, according to an Associ- ated Press review of tribal records. In all, tribes with a total membership approach- ing 1 million won’t recognize marriages between two men or two women. Several explicitly declare that same-sex marriages are prohibited. And some have even toughened their stance. In December, just weeks after North Carolina began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, the state’s Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians updated its law to add language preventing gay couples from having mar- riage ceremonies performed on tribal land. The resolu- tion changing the law, which passed 8-1, says court cases around the country prompted the tribe of about 13,000 en- rolled members to review its own laws. The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma and the Navajo Nation, with about 300,000 members each, maintain de- cade-old laws that don’t rec- ognize same-sex marriage. Neither tribe has shown much sign of shifting. AP Photo/Jerry Archuleta In this Jan. 2014 photo provided by Jerry Archuleta, Alray Nelson, left, and Brennen Yonnie, right, pose for a photo at the flea market in Gallup, N.M. The couple has been advocating to have a Navajo Nation law that prohibits same-sex marriages repealed. Alray Nelson, a gay rights activist who lives with his partner Brennen Yonnie on the Navajo reservation, said the tribe’s law denies same- sex couples the right to be in- cluded in decisions on a part- ner’s health care, or to share in a home site lease. Getting a marriage license would only require a short drive to a courthouse off the reserva- tion, but the couple — both enrolled Navajo members — would rather wait until it’s al- lowed on the reservation. “We are both planning to build a life here, and we want to raise a family,” he said. “So it’s not an option for us to remove ourselves from our community.” As with the states, oppo- sition to gay marriage var- ies among tribes. At least 10 have recognized same-sex marriage, often well ahead of their surrounding states and without having judges force their hands. Many others are neutral. The Supreme Court will hear arguments April 28 and could decide by June wheth- er gay couples can marry in the remaining states and U.S. territories where it’s not allowed. But while 27 states that allow gay marriage got dragged over the threshold by judges, the sovereign status of federally recognized tribes means a Supreme Court rul- ing wouldn’t directly affect their laws. &KHURNHH RI¿FLDOV LQ Oklahoma and North Caro- lina say nothing in their laws prevents members from get- ting marriage licenses in ad- jacent counties. The Oklaho- ma-based Cherokee Nation, which has a separate govern- ment and laws from the East- ern Band, passed its marriage law in 2004. The Navajo Nation Coun- cil voted in 2005 to ban same- sex marriages on the 27,000 square-mile reservation that extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah — all states where such marriages are le- gal. Then-President Joe Shir- ley Jr. vetoed the measure, but lawmakers overturned it. There’s been no push re- cently among tribal lawmak- ers to change that, said coun- cil spokesman Jared Touchin. The Osage Nation, bor- dering Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed a wide-ranging mar- riage law in 2012 that doesn’t recognize same-sex unions. John Hawk Co-Cke’ (co- KAY), an enrolled member of the Osage Nation who’s gay, said that before reservations were created, many tribes had no problem with men who embraced their feminine side and women who lean toward their masculine side, inspiring the term two-spirit people. Two-spirit people were some- times given special ceremoni- al roles because of their ability to go into both the masculine and feminine world, he said. The spread of Christiani- ty starting when tribes were moved onto reservations con- tributed to a change in attitude WKDW¶V UHÀHFWHG LQ ODZV WKDW reserve marriage for hetero- sexual couples, Co-Cke’ said. 7KHLQÀXHQFHRI&KULVWLDQLW\ remains strong in many tribes more than a century after an era of mass conversions on reservations. Page 5A BRIEFLY Kenyan airstrikes hit suspected militant camps NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan warplanes bombed militant camps LQ6RPDOLDRI¿FLDOVVDLG Monday, following a vow by President Uhuru Kenyatta WRUHVSRQG³LQWKH¿HUFHVW way possible” to a massacre of college students by al- Shabab extremists. The airstrikes Sunday and Monday targeted the Gedo region of western Somalia, directly across the border from Kenya, said Col. David Obonyo of the Kenyan military. The al-Shabab camps, which were used to store arms and for logistical support, were destroyed, but it was not possible to determine the number of casualties because of poor visibility, he said. The Somalia-based mili- tant group claimed responsi- bility for Thursday’s attack at Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya in which militants killed 148 people. Airstrikes and other con- ventional military operations have hurt al-Shabab, but ana- lysts say better intelligence is needed to thwart an extremist group that has proven effec- WLYHLQLQ¿OWUDWLQJFLYLOLDQ populations and carrying out attacks on so-called “soft” targets in urban areas. Cuba-United States warming held up by listing of Cuba as terror sponsor HAVANA (AP) — Amer- ican hopes of opening an embassy in Havana before presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro meet at a regional summit this week have been snarled in disputes about Cuba’s presence on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror and U.S. diplomats’ freedom to travel and talk to ordinary Cubans without UHVWULFWLRQRI¿FLDOVVD\ The Summit of the Americas will be the scene RIWKHSUHVLGHQWV¶¿UVWIDFH to-face meeting since they announced Dec. 17 that they will re-establish diplomatic relations after a half-centu- ry of hostility. The Obama administration wanted the embassies reopened before the summit starts in Panama on Friday, boosting a new American policy motivat- ed partly by a sense that isolating Cuba was causing friction with other countries in the region. Arriving at the summit with a deal to reopen embas- sies in Washington and Ha- vana would create goodwill for the U.S., particularly after it issued new sanctions on VHOHFWHG9HQH]XHODQRI¿FLDOV last month that prompted protests from left-leaning countries. Negotiators on both sides VDLGWKH\DUHFRQ¿GHQWWKH\ will be able to strike a deal to reopen embassies in the com- ing weeks but not necessarily before the summit. Asked Monday about the latest on the embassies, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that “when you have a coun- try that has essentially been ostracized by the United 6WDWHVIRU¿YHGHFDGHV it’s going to take a little bit of time to re-establish some trust.” Welcome 121 S. Main, Pendleton, OR 541-276-1418 • 800-303-0419 Main Street Service Where One Call Insures it all Handful of tribes dig in against gay marriage East Oregonian New Member Safeco Insurance • Allstate Mutual of Enumclaw • Chubb • Travelers • Farm • Business • Home • Ranch • Auto • Life NATION/WORLD Tuesday, April 7, 2015 • Health • Crop www.bisnett.com Office locations: Pendleton • Baker City • Milton-Freewater • Medford • John Day • Hood River • Lake Oswego • Ketchum, ID • Scottsdale, AZ 45926DS U PCOMING C HAMBER N EWS The Shop Ron & Jennifer Dirkes, Owners 238 SW Court Ave, Pendleton (541) 276-8949 theshop1@eotnet.net Echo Bike & Board LLC Stephanie Myers, Owner 253 S Main St, Pendleton (541) 376-8500 echobike@live.com Mac’s Bar & Grill Andy McAnally, Owner 1400 SW Dorion Ave, Pendleton (541) 276-5531 andrewmcanally@yahoo.com The Pendleton Coffee Bean & Bistro Paula Dirks, Owner 241 S Main St, Pendleton (541) 379-3663 pcb97801@gmail.com “Cowgirls in Cahoots”!! New works by Janene Grende and Connie Spurgeon... Opening Reception Thursday, April 9th 5 ~7:30 Artist Demonstration: Friday Noon - 4 pm Tues - Fri 9am - 5:30pm Saturday & Evening by Appointment WE ARE NOW OPEN WEDNESDAYS 311 SW 6th • Pendleton 541-278-8099 36 SW Court Ave, Pendleton • 541-276-3617 Open Mon-Sat Imagine Better Health... Spring is Arriving Daily! Clothes, Shoes, Jewelry, Handbags Spring Sales Thurs Fri Sat Open late Thursday 2801 S T . A NTHONY W AY , P ENDLETON , OR 97801 217 SE Court, Pendleton • (541) 276-0778 • www.marlajunes.com MARY A. JOHNSON, P h .D. Pendleton Book Co. Counseling Services Specializing in Grief and Loss, with sub-specialty in Suicide Bereavement. Also Couples Counseling, Depression, Personal Growth M EMBER OF A MERICAN C OUNSELING A SSOCIATION Sister’s Cafe 400 S Main St, Pendleton Thursday, April 9th at 4:30 p.m. Echo Bike & Board LLC 253 S Main St, Pendleton Friday, May 1st at 12:15 p.m. Rocky Mountain Colby Pipe 4950 McKennon Road, Pendleton Friday, April 10th at 12:15 p.m. Center for Excellence in Dermatology 2450 SW Perkins Ave, Pendleton Friday, May 8th at 12:15 p.m. Super Sale 3 rd Saturday of every month! 541-276-2471 202 SE Dorion, Suite 103 • Pendleton, OR 97801 Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor #C2898 • MARYABQ@aol.com www.maryajohnsonphd.com Accept VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Member FINRA/SIPC Serving Eastern Oregon & Washington for over 23 years Our Professionals Offer: • Retirement Cash Flow Planning • Consolidating Assets • Investment Management • IRA’s ~ Roth IRA’s ~ 403b’s ~ 401K’s John Cimmiyotti ~ Branch Manager 305 SW Dorion Ave. ~ Pendleton, OR 97801 8797 W. Gage Blvd., Ste. C-103 ~ Kennewick, WA 99336 541-276-9184 • 800-276-9184 Web Site: www.RaymondJames.com/JohnCimmiyotti Stay Connected! Find us on Facebook! facebook.com/pendletonchamber @PendletonCC & @TravelPendleton on Twitter Visit Our Website! pendletonchamber.com Subscribe to Quick Notes! pendletonchamber.com/sub Airport Antiques & The Furniture Lady Celebrating 15 Years! (800) 422-7611 April 17th & 18th Frazier Office Supply, Inc. Celebrating 30 Years! Extended hours: April 17th 10:30 am - 8:00 pm April 18th 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Airport Antiques & The Furniture Lady The Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub Celebrating 5 Years! 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