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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2015)
August 7, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 7A Seaside dispensary to consider sales of recreational cannabis takes a little bit of time, if you do it legally and correctly.” When it comes to pricing, he said, the Oregon Health Au- thority requires dispensaries to derive a formula based on what they pay for their product, their operating costs and what it would take to turn profit. After calculating costs, Geiger said, they determine what to charge per gram based on what they paid for pound. Pot from Page 1A lance, security, safes, alarms — has to meet high standards of oversight. Surviving the moratorium The next hurdles the busi- ness encountered were at a local level. In 2013, through Senate Bill 1531, the state gave municipalities the abil- ity to enact a moratorium of up to one year on licensing medical marijuana dispen- saries while they worked to establish “reasonable regu- lations.” Not wanting to lose their location on U.S. Highway 101, the Geigers continued to undergo inspections by the Oregon Health Authority and pay an annual licensing fee of $4,000 even during the mora- torium. “It wasn’t easy. We’ve got a very big space and a small store to support it,” Geiger said. Seaside’s moratorium expired May 1. Even then, though, the Geigers were un- able to operate as a dispensary, because the Code of Seaside’s general business license ordi- nance prohibits activities that violate local, state or federal law. Marijuana is still a sched- ule I drug at the federal level. The waiting continued, Geiger said, as the Seaside City Council grappled with adopting provisions to control how, when and where dis- pensaries could be operated within city limits. Even after an ordinance was adopted May 11, it took 30 days for that to go into effect. High- way 420 was then subject to a surprise inspection by the Or- egon Health Authority and lo- cal law enforcement, as well as background checks for all employees. “We have been thoroughly searched, investigated, looked at up and down for weeks, KATHERINE LACAZE/SEASIDE SIGNAL Recreational sales on the horizon? Only a few weeks into op- erating their dispensary, the Geigers are faced with the decision of whether to start selling recreational marijuana in October. That became pos- sible Tuesday, July 28, when Gov. Kate Brown signed Sen- months and years before we ate Bill 460 into law; the leg- ZHUH ¿QDOO\ DEOH WR JHW WKLV´ islation allows existing dispen- saries to sell limited quantities Geiger said. He believes the tenacity of dried marijuana, seeds and was worth it and feedback starter plants to all adults be- KH¶V UHFHLYHG KDV FRQ¿UPHG ginning Oct. 1. “When we got into this, that. Many customers have expressed gratitude that they we never had an interest in SXWXSD¿JKWDQGWKHGLVSHQ- recreational,” Geiger said. sary is now running, Geiger “We got into this to help peo- ple and we were interested in said. “That part of it has been the medicinal side. But now very rewarding, because ev- that things have changed dra- ery day people are coming in matically, the future of med- here and they’re happy,” he ical marijuana is uncertain.” As a business person who said. “That’s what we wanted to achieve and we’ve done it.” has invested heavily in a med- In the two weeks af- ical marijuana dispensary, he ter opening, the dispensary added, “we’re really forced tracked about 700 points of now to consider the recre- service, although many were ational end, because if we for repeat customers. The don’t, we won’t survive.” Looking into the future, facility carries 20 strains of medical marijuana, as well as the owners plan to provide oils, medibles and other items. recreational marijuana start- His products come from sev- ing in October if the state will eral sources, including some license them to do so and the in the local area, Portland and city agrees to it. Senate Bill 460 allows local governments to southern Oregon. “We’re getting new prod- adopt ordinances that prohibit ucts all the time,” Geiger said. sales of limited marijuana retail “When you’re brand new, you products. Geiger hopes the city will can’t just open up and have a store full of stuff. You have to not choose to do so, especial- go through the process, and it ly considering approximately Steve Geiger is the owner and budtender at Highway 420, Seaside’s first legally operated medical marijuana dispensary since the city’s moratorium expired. 59 percent of Seaside voters approved of Measure 91 in the 2015 General Election last November. “Maybe it’s time to start looking at marijuana different- ly than we have in the past, and instead of recoiling from it and thinking it represents something it doesn’t, embrace it and let the money that’s going to come from it, come to our town,” he said. the idea of medical marijuana being restricted to industrial zones. He said he does not Marijuana farmers will believe that is the cleanest en- have room to grow in Sea- vironment for producing and side’s industrial areas, but processing a natural product. will be prohibited from the Seidel said it could be detri- city’s commercial and resi- mental to the quality of the product. dential zones. Since the sites in city lim- One resident, however, is concerned that an herbal its would be indoors in a con- product like pot might suffer trolled climate, that should from industrial conditions not be an issue in Seaside, Councilor Jay Barber An uncertain future and could be detrimental to City said.“That provides purity, the product. In addition to steps the city On Monday, July 27, Sea- which is a major issue in the could take to limit the pres- side City Council members growing of marijuana in any ence of marijuana in town, moved forward in the process city,” he said. Geiger said there are other of establishing licensing re- Additionally, Barber said, factors that make the future quirements for local medical the state measures the prod- uncertain for Highway 420. uct to ensure quality before it marijuana growers. It is very expensive and The proposed two- is passed on to consumers. A third reading of the time-consuming for patients pronged legislation was con- to get their medical marijuana sidered at a second public bill is scheduled for a future card every year. Many will con- hearing on medical marijuana council meeting. In other news: WLQXHWREHQH¿WIURPKDYLQJD production and processing. • Panhandlers and others card because taxes for medical A new chapter in the city PDULMXDQDZLOOEHVLJQL¿FDQWO\ code would set restrictions got another month’s reprieve, less than taxes for recreational on where and how those as the City Council postponed marijuana. On the other hand, businesses could operate, a discussion of the proposed Geiger said, because people limiting production to Sea- ordinance regarding itinerant now can grow their own plants side’s three industrial zones. merchants. The ordinance and possess marijuana in mul- Growers, producers and pro- would amend legislation on tiple forms, the medical card cessors would need to obtain the books since the 1980s, “doesn’t have near the value it or renew annual licenses from and would require panhan- once did.” both Seaside and the Oregon dlers, street salesmen, musi- That poses the following Health Authority. The city cians and others to obtain a questions: How many pa- would require grow site own- license for $50 per day. The tients will continue to pay to ers, managers, operators, council scheduled a work keep their cards? How will employees, agents and vol- session on the proposed ordi- the Oregon Liquor Control unteers would be subject to nance for Aug. 31 at Seaside Commission address medical criminal record background City Hall. • Seaside Fire Chief Joey versus recreational marijua- checks. Grow sites would be na? What fees and taxes will subject to periodic inspec- Daniels informed council the state establish? WLRQVE\WKH6HDVLGH¿UHPDU- WKHRI¿FHUHPRGHODWWKH¿UH “All those are questions shal to ensure they remain in station was completed. The that are still left to be an- compliance with applicable remodel bid was for $32,984. swered, and as a business ¿UHDQGOLIHVDIHW\UHJXODWLRQV The total cost for the remodel was $39,383 because of un- person there’s no way you established in the ordinance. FDQGRDQ\VRUWRISUR¿OHRU Astoria resident Zachary foreseen issues that came up business plan around some- Seidel said he was opposed to during the process. thing that doesn’t exist yet,” Geiger said. His goal is to continue try- ing to politically engage the public to get involved and foster a cannabis-friendly en- vironment in which the dis- pensary can survive. as possible,” he said. “One pound a light is our goal.” of his strains in state competi- Any extra is just a bonus, he WLRQVDQGZRQ¿UVWSODFHIRUKLV added. That means each month, “Krome’s White” strain. they harvest about 4 to 6 pounds That sense of accomplish- per room. ment, knowing he could create The whole process — from a quality product, drove him “to cloning to having the product ready keep going and keep getting a for use — takes about three to four little bit bigger and a little bit bet- months. In addition to the light, ter,” he said. growers also control humidity lev- Early in 2015, for logistical els and temperature, which should and security purposes, he and his be 45 to 50 percent and between 70 partners transferred their opera- and 80 degrees, respectively. tion to its own space. Break-ins When it comes to choosing posed not only a constant threat nutrients for the plants, some but actually occurred at Sauce- growers opt for synthetic mate- do’s residence. Additionally, the rials and others for organic prod- partners were gearing up for an ucts. Saucedo and his partners anticipated merge of the medical start with a synthetic feeding and recreational cannabis indus- method known as Lucas For- tries and their accompanying mula and incorporate proteins by rules and regulations. adding in different organic mate- He considers his operation rials. still relatively small; he and his Who gets the product partners all have external em- ployment for income. Most of Saucedo is licensed to grow their profit from growing canna- medical marijuana for himself bis has been spent to prepare their and three patients, and his part- facility to meet the structural and ners are, as well. Growers may security regulations it will have legally produce marijuana for to when they are required to get no more than four patients or state and city licenses in the com- designated primary caregivers ing months. concurrently, as per Oregon The growing process Revised Statutes. Growers may possess up to six mature plants Saucedo’s workshop has three and up to 24 ounces of usable rooms for flowering. The cultiva- marijuana for each patient or tion process starts with cloning. caregiver for whom marijuana The growers take a cut from an is being produced and up to 18 established plant they have iden- marijuana seedlings or starts for tified and acquired from a quality each patient. source. Saucedo has to carry his It takes about 14 days for the own patient card, as well as cuts to root, and then they can grow cards for each of his pa- be transported to a 5-inch pot. In tients. Any excess he has after about a week, the plants move selling to his patients he is able to a 1- or 2-gallon pot, and then to provide to dispensaries. a 25-gallon pot. Saucedo uses a If a grower is selling to a coco coir fiber for his potting mix. dispensary, a product sample Once the plants have moved RI WKUHH JUDPV PXVW ¿UVW EH to the large pots, they are given tested at a specialty lab, which two or three weeks to vegetate. can take one day or more, Growers have to fabricate an ar- depending on how much the tificial light cycle that mimics and grower is willing to pay for expedites the natural cycle canna- expediency. The labs, which bis plants are exposed to outdoors. are designated solely for test- Once the plants are ready to flow- ing marijuana, do a potency er, they are exposed to light only analysis and check for mold 12 hours per day instead of 24, and mildew. which will trigger that effect. Where growers will see Saucedo tries to keep the ra- more oversight in the coming tio at one plant per light so “we months from the state and local can stay within the legal limit level is regarding their facilities. and grow optimal-sized plants.” The city of Seaside is current- Growers are restricted to six plants ly considering legislation that per patient. would require growers to obtain “We try to get the plants as big a business license and a license to have a grow operation. If the ordinance passes, grow sites would be subject to inspections IURPWKHFLW\¶VEXLOGLQJRI¿FLDO DQG¿UHGHSDUWPHQW The ordinance would re- strict grow sites to the city’s in- dustrial zones, which wouldn’t affect Saucedo’s operation as it already is located in an industri- al zone. However, he said, “it’s not really leaving the market very wide open.” A couple months ago, he asked the city to consider allow- ing operations in some com- mercial zones, as long as they met other regulations. The city has not discussed that option at a City Council meeting since starting the process to pass the proposed marijuana grow oper- ation ordinance. By Katherine Lacaze Seaside Signal BUSINESS Seaside marijuana grower expands operation Grower from Page 1A City Council crafting regulations for cultivating medical marijuana DIRECTORY F LOORING 2/3 of Showroom ALWAYS ON SALE! Window Treatments, Fabric, Wallpaper, Flooring and Interior Design 2311 N. Roosevelt Dr., Seaside, OR 97138 • 503-738-5729 rlflooring@yahoo.com • www.RandallLeesFlooring.com SUBMITTED PHOTO In 2010, Seaside resident and cannabis producer Eric Saucedo took first and second place at the Oregon Green Free Sixth An- nual Oregon CareGrowers Cup. Brewery. A lot more time and love will go into one and the others are mass-produced.” Saucedo is trying to cultivate quality varieties of cannabis An awkward time that will thrive in the product’s new market environment. As a for growers landscaper, he is around plants The Oregon Health Author- all day so he is able to identify ity reported in April there were and treat any problems his mar- 439 growers and 370 growsites ijuana plants might have. Al- in the county; there were 674 most any growing question he registered medical marijuana has can be answered by a quick patients in Clatsop County, Internet search. as of July. The legalization of “There shouldn’t be much recreational marijuana with of a learning curve for grow- the passage of Measure 91 last ers if they seek out the infor- year has created a changing le- mation,” he said. gal environment for growers. Saucedo sells his product in Overall market prices for leaf or smokable form, but there marijuana have seen a decline in are many other different niches recent years, Saucedo said. He in the industry, among them con- and his partners used to get about centrates, oils, medibles, mar- $3,000 to $4,000 per pound de- ijuana-infused items and other pending on the variety. Now, the products. price ranges from about $1,600 “There are many positions to $2,400 per pound. LQWKLVLQGXVWU\ZHKDYHQ¶W¿J- While that may be good for ured out yet,” he said. patients and dispensaries, “a Saucedo hopes to see his small guy may just get pushed business grow to the point it RXWDQGWKHSUR¿WPDUJLQVPD\ can be his sole occupation and not be high enough for up-and- he can provide employment comers,” when it comes to for others. growers, Saucedo said. A few varieties in their Only those producing the arsenal have been there for highest quality product will years, and likely are there to survive, or rather, “the solid stay. Others are given a shot craftsmen will rise to the top,” but don’t make the cut. Under he said. Large-scale operations current regulations, which lim- also should make it, he said. it the number of plants a grow- Consumers have to educate er may possess, real breeding themselves on what counts toward isn’t possible. Saucedo said he quality for marijuana and decide hopes to see that change. what they are willing to accept. “We’d like to, if the state “The marketplace will de- allows it, have a real breeding termine what’s good and what’s program and come out with bad — what’s an acceptable our own varieties,” he said, end product,” Saucedo said. adding, “we would like to put “It’s just like beer. 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