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
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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. You could a strain throughout the world
get a Coors or go to Fort George that represents Seaside, Ore.”
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