Cottage Grove sentinel., July 01, 2015, Page 8A, Image 8

8A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL July 1, 2015
W EED
Continued from page 1A
For law enforcement:
Cottage Grove Police Chief
Mike Grover said local police are
“not going to lose a lot of sleep”
over legalization, calling recre-
ational marijuana “no big deal.”
He said his department will con-
centrate on keeping the drug out
of the hands of minors and will
ticket minors in possession where
necessary. Drivers who attempt to
drive impaired will still be subject
to the same penalties as before,
Grover said.
Grover said CGPD will not be
concentrating heavily on policing
the buying or selling of marijuana
or use in public places, though he
acknowledged that much of what
will play out in the near future
with regard to marijuana has yet
to be seen.
“Nobody knows what’s going to
happen, what exactly the legisla-
ture is going to do,” he said. “They
passed this law and everyone was
ill-prepared to deal with it, includ-
ing us. It’s a generational thing;
times have changed, and you’ve
got to be able to bob and weave
with them. Some of us don’t do
that very well.”
For dispensaries:
Last week, representatives of
two of Cottage Grove’s medical
marijuana dispensaries said they
expected to turn people away who
wish to purchase weed from them
this week.
“People have been asking us,
‘Can we buy from you on July 1?’
We can’t give people good infor-
mation on that,” said Jake Boone,
manager of Apothecaria.
The Oregon House has put forth
a bill that would allow dispensa-
ries to sell recreational marijuana
fl owers only on Oct. 1, but it re-
mains to be seen whether that will
happen. If it does, Boone said,
much will change.
“All we would have to do is look
at ID,” he said. “What will likely
happen is that people with medi-
cal cards wouldn’t have to pay
tax, and people without one will.
We expect a lot of people to show
up that day (July 1), but there will
be roadblocks. We expect a short-
age because there will be more
customers but not enough time to
ramp up production.”
Boone said he expects medical
marijuana cardholders to stock
up on the drug so they can “sup-
ply the party,” though he said his
dispensary has policies in place to
make sure an individual doesn’t
purchase too much, too often.
Likewise, Randy Llamas of the
Holistic Co-op said he expected
that people were “going to be
banging on the door” to buy rec-
reational pot from him this week.
Both Boone and Llamas said they
worry that the black market for
weed will fl ourish until there are
legal avenues for its purchase.
“I’m worried that it’s going to
go to the streets,” Llamas said.
“The dealers will take over, and
by the time it’s legal to sell, the
dealers will already have put down
roots.”
For fi rst responders:
South Lane Fire and Rescue Di-
vision Chief Joe Raade said he’s
concerned that people who have
never used marijuana will try it
this week because it’s now legal
and be unprepared for its effects.
“People who have never used
it will try it and have some type
of ‘holy-cow’ moment and call an
ambulance,” he said. “We’ve been
expecting it and training our crews
to deal with that situation.”
Raade said he would be “fool-
ing himself” to think that none
of his employees have ever tried
marijuana, but for those who have
not, South Lane Fire has been
busy educating them as to its side
effects.
“We have a few naïve medics,”
he said. “We’re seeing more and
more edibles already; we recently
went into a home and I had a med-
ic ask me, ‘Why would they want
a tub of butter by the bed?'"
For pets:
Legalization will almost cer-
tainly have unforeseen impacts
on humans, but the Cottage Grove
Humane Society issued a warning
in its most recent newsletter that
“now that it is becoming legal,
there is more opportunity for our
pets to get into the drug.”
“Veterinary clinics are seeing
more pets with symptoms includ-
ing loss of coordination, lethargy,
panting, dribbling of urine, etc.”
related to marijuana ingestion, the
warning stated. Dr. Ryan Frome
of Forest Valley Veterinary Clinic
said that his clinic does occasion-
ally see pets that have ingested
marijuana, but he’s unsure if le-
galization will impact the number
of such cases.
“Everyone in the vet world will
be watching to see if there’s an im-
pact,” he said. “We’ve heard anec-
dotal reports of poisonings, but we
don’t know if we’re going to see
that here. We’re concerned, espe-
cially about edibles.”
Frome said that administering
fl uids is the common treatment for
marijuana ingestion, as there’s “no
antidote” for the drug.
“In a severe case, it’s been talked
about that there could be seizures
or a coma, but we’ve never seen
that,” he said.
LORANE COUNTRY NEWS
BY LIL THOMPSON
For the Sentinel
T
he Lorane Rebekahs put on a fabulous feast Satur-
day for the community as a thank-you for help and
support of their foundation. Everyone enjoyed the deli-
cious assortment of food served.
Lorane Grangers began the re-roofi ng of the Grange
Hall last Saturday. Thanks to all those who came, worked
or supplied food. They will be working again the last
weekend in July.
“Little Coffee Hours” began this morning Wednesday,
July 1 at the Rebekah Lodge. Come out each Wednesday
from 7-9 a.m. for coffee, muffi ns and visiting.
Be sure to mark July 9 on your calendar for the next
meeting of the Lorane Celebration Committee at 6:30
p.m. in the Grange. There is still plenty of time to rent
a table at the Grange or have a home placed on the map.
Those interested can call 541-942-5701.
Just a reminder, Lorane Grange meets the third Thurs-
day this month on July 16. I was asked to repeat a com-
ment from last week: There is a 35 m.p.h. speed limit
posted through the section of Lorane from just before the
Lorane Family Store to after the Lorane General Store
on Territorial Road. Many, many cars fl y through there,
and parents and children are walking. Please do SLOW
DOWN! Also, please slow down on Old Lorane Road.
While working on the Grange roof this weekend, we
noticed that many cars went above a speed acceptable for
this small residential area of Lorane. Be mindful that this
is summer and more people are out. Be sure to check out
the Growers Market temporarily housed at the Lorane
Family Store.
Everyone have a safe and happy Fourth of July! Due to
high fi re danger, be very careful with fi reworks, but have
fun. Have water nearby.
Kid’s Create An Ad
Th e Cottage Grove Sentinel advertising team
partnered with the kids in a fun project
that was eductional and fun!
Old Mill Farm Store
327 S. River Road
Cottage Grove, OR 541-942-3042
The Flower Basket & Gift Boutique
119 South 6th St.
Cottage Grove • 541-942-0505
Kenzlei Reiser
By: Kenzlei Reiser
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
914 South 4th St.
Cottage Grove 541-942-1559
Homestead Furniture
615 Main St.
Cottage Grove, 541-942-8711
Bayleigh Reiser
Bayleigh Reiser