March 16, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 3A
North Coast is profitable for marijuana retailers
Clatsop County
sold $8 million
in pot products
last year
By Edward Stratton
The Daily Astorian
With their lower popu-
lations and higher rates of
tourism, North Coast counties
sold some of the most mar-
ijuana per capita in Oregon
last year.
The 14 licensed marijua-
na retailers in Clatsop Coun-
ty sold more than $8 million
in products last year, part of
the nearly $520 million sold
statewide. The industry has
grown to employ more than
12,000 people, while the state
has raked in more than $100
million in tax revenue.
There were six marijua-
na retailers in Astoria, four
in Seaside, one in Cannon
Beach, two along U.S. High-
way 26 and one in Westport
— more than 1 for every
2,800 people. Combined sales
equaled $208 per person, the
sixth-highest rate in the state
during the first full year of
recreational sales regulated
by the Oregon Liquor Control
Commission.
Tillamook County ranked
fifth, selling $5.6 million in
marijuana products, equal
to $214 per person. Lincoln
County came in third, at $13.6
million, $284 per person.
Stephanie Schlip, who
manages Oasis Cannabis lo-
cations in Newberg, Mon-
mouth and Seaside, said her
sales on the Oregon Coast will
COLIN MURPHEY/THE DAILY ASTORIAN
Jeromy Nelson works the counter at Hi Casual Cannabis in
Astoria.
‘THERE’S A LOT OF MONEY
FLOATING AROUND.’
Don Morse
often outstrip those in the Wil-
lamette Valley by 25 percent
in the summer and lag behind
in winter.
“I would say about 1 out
of every 20 customers say
they’re from another state,
and they’ve never been in a
dispensary,” she said.
Many were Californians
before that state recently le-
galized recreational sales, she
said, Many were from Idaho,
the only state bordering Ore-
gon where recreational mari-
juana is illegal.
Curry County, on the bor-
der with California, ranked
second in sales per capita,
selling $310 worth of mari-
juana per person. Rural Baker
County, with 16,750 residents
and across the border from
more than 600,000 people in
Idaho’s Treasure Valley, sold
$16 million worth of marijua-
na last year, or $960 per per-
son. Multnomah County sold
$176 million in marijuana
products last year, or $220 per
person, the fourth-highest rate
statewide.
“I think it’s just the be-
ginning,” said Don Morse,
director of the Oregon Canna-
bis Business Council, a trade
association. “I think sales are
going to increase, and they’ll
certainly get a lot higher as
we take away from the black
market.”
But Morse and others see
consolidation coming among
the more than 500 retailers
and 900 growers statewide.
A presentation by New
Peggy Lou Bruner
Seaside
Sept. 11, 1929 — Nov. 15, 2017
Peggy Scott Bruner was born in Longview, Work Scott, preceded her in death.
Washington, where she lived most of her life
Peggy enjoyed her local friends, her family,
until moving to Seaside 13 years ago. Peggy her community, playing pinochle, cooking, go-
enjoyed life at the beach, and was an active and ing out to dinner, jewelry, dogs, watching sun-
sets, the tides and wildlife in the Na-
fun-loving person until her peaceful
canicum estuary. Living in Seaside
demise.
Peggy worked 22 years at Weyer-
was a wonderful time in her life; it
haeuser and retired from mill work
has been a great adventure for Peg-
gy, and all who shared time with her.
in 1988. She was one of the first
Apache prayer:
group of women hired by Weyerhae-
user for general labor when the equal
May the Sun bring you new en-
ergy by day.
opportunity laws went into effect.
May the Moon softly restore you
Her family is proud she succeeded
by night.
and flourished.
Peggy is survived by her son, Ty
May the Rain wash away your
Bruner of Longview, and recently Peggy Lou Bruner worries.
Seaside; and her daughter, Teresa
May the Breeze blow new
Epstein, now living in Seaside. Her
strength into your being.
brother, Duane Scott, lives in Longview. Her
May you Walk gently through the world
father, Charlie Scott, and her mother, Georgia and know its beauty all the days of your life.
Paul H. Yearout
Gearhart
Sept. 15, 1924 — March 6, 2018
Paul Yearout
growers has gone from less
than 10 million square feet
in 2015 to more than 20 mil-
lion square feet, Whitney
said. Between October 2016,
when recreational sales start-
ed, and November, the retail
price of a pound of marijuana
dropped from $4,440 to less
than $3,000.
“It’s no surprise to me
that there’s excess supply, or
Thompson files, Clement passes
on county commission seat
OBITUARIES
On Tuesday, March 6, 2018,
while surrounded by family and
friends, our beloved father, Paul
Yearout, passed peacefully from this
world and returned to the Lord at the
age of 93.
Born on Sept. 15, 1924, Dad
lived in Provo, Utah, from 1964 until
his retirement from Brigham Young
University as a math professor in
Frontier Data economist Beau
Whitney noted the industry
was reaching saturation. Re-
tailers need about $125,000
in monthly sales to be viable,
but are averaging $92,000
a month in Oregon, leaving
them in distress.
Part of the issue is too
much marijuana being pro-
duced. The estimated maxi-
mum canopy being used by
that prices are plummeting,”
Whitney said, adding many
growers are trying to get
bought out.
Whitney has suggested re-
tailers lower their prices to take
price-conscious
consumers
away from the black market.
“In general, for every 1
percent or so reduction in
price … you’ll increase your
demand by 2 to 3 percent,” he
said. “That’s conversion over
from the illicit market.”
The marijuana industry is
also trying to tackle other reg-
ulatory hurdles, such as find-
ing bankers to handle money
and places to legally smoke
outside of the home.
The Oregon Cannabis
Business Council is planning
legislation for the next session
on social-use areas for canna-
bis, Morse said. A couple of
cannabis clubs in Portland
allow consumption, but are
technically still illegal.
One issue, Morse said, is
the state’s Indoor Clean Air
Act. “We don’t even allow
cigar bars, unless they were
grandfathered in,” he said.
North Fork 53, a farm and
lodging on the Nehalem River
in southern Clatsop County,
had provided space and par-
aphernalia. But the business
ended the practice amid dif-
ficulties turning a profit and
creating spaces that complied
with air quality standards.
On banking, the marijua-
na industry needs to show the
state how much it is potential-
ly losing in taxable income by
businesses having to depend
on cash.
“There’s a lot of money
floating around,” Morse said.
1991, when he and wife Cliphane
moved to the Oregon coastal town
of Gearhart.
He is survived by two sons, six
grandchildren, 11 great-grandchil-
dren, and one great-great grandson.
Please go online and sign the
electronic guest book and leave
memories and comments about our
father at hughes-ransom.com
LIMITED TIME OFFER
DOUBLE YOUR P O W E R
Race to fill
House District
32 seat
By Jack Heffernan
The Daily Astorian
A familiar face in Astoria
politics will vie for a Clatsop
County Board of Commis-
sioners seat, while the in-
cumbent will bow out.
Doug Thompson, a real
estate broker, property man-
ager and former Astoria city
councilor, filed for the Dis-
trict 3 seat ahead of Tues-
day’s deadline. Commission-
er Lisa Clement, co-owner of
Clemente’s Seafood, will not
seek re-election.
Thompson made his deci-
sion after learning Clement
did not file, he said.
“I’m in it to win it,” he
said.
Thompson is the chair-
man of the Clatsop County
Democratic Central Com-
mittee. He is resigning from
the post to pursue to the com-
mission seat, he said.
He earned a business ad-
ministration degree from
Portland State University be-
fore serving as a city coun-
cilor from 1991 to 2002.
The county commission
has three positions up for
election.
Pamela Wev, an Astoria
land use planning consultant,
and Peter Roscoe, a former
Astoria city councilor and
owner of Fulio’s Pastaria,
have also filed for the Dis-
trict 3 seat. The position cov-
ers parts of Astoria as well
as Miles Crossing, Jeffers
Garden, Lewis and Clark,
Youngs River, Olney, Green
Mountain and parts of Wal-
luski.
Commissioner
Scott
Lee, the board’s chairman,
announced in 2016 that he
would not seek re-election
in District 1. Mark Kujala —
former Warrenton mayor and
owner of Skipanon Brand
Seafood — Andrew Davis
— a medical data analyst —
and George McCartin — a
retired lawyer and frequent
public meeting attendee —
have all filed for the seat.
Commissioner
Lianne
Thompson will campaign
for a second term and run
against Susana Gladwin, a
Jewell farmer. The District
5 seat covers most of South
County, including Cannon
Beach, Arch Cape, Elsie,
Jewell and parts of Seaside.
The race to replace state
Rep. Deborah Boone in
House District 32 includes
four candidates.
Tim Josi — a Tillamook
County commissioner —
John Orr — an Astoria at-
torney — and Tiffiny Mitch-
ell — a progressive activist
with Indivisible North Coast
Oregon — have filed for the
Democratic primary. War-
renton author and educator
Melissa Ousley filed as a
Democrat but withdrew her
candidacy late last month.
Gene Stout — a general
contractor from Banks —
and Vineeta S. Lower — a
Seaside teacher — will com-
pete in the Republican pri-
mary, while Brian Halvors-
en — a Rockaway Beach
community organizer who
founded North Coast Pro-
gressives — filed as an Inde-
pendent.
Josi has received the
strongest financial backing
of all the District 32 candi-
dates.
Ron Brown filed earlier
this year as a district attor-
ney candidate. Brown is a
longtime deputy for Josh
Marquis, who has held the
position since 1994 but will
not seek another term.
Circuit Court Judge Cin-
dee Matyas also filed for
re-election.
The primary election is
May 15, and the general elec-
tion will take place Nov. 6.
AMAZING AWAITS.
Come visit our newest location at the corner of Sunset and
Hemlock in Cannon Beach. You can also find us at our orignal
Pacific City brewpub right on the beach or at our Tillamook
PURCHASE A
Quiet,
Compact
and
Easy to Use
brewery and tap room to see where the magic happens.
Automatic Standby Generator
and receive a
FREE INVERTER
Offer valid till April 22, 2018
GENERATOR
$
500 VALUE!
AND THAT’S NOT ALL!
Renaud Electric Power Systems
will also include a $699.99 Generac
7 year Parts & Labor Extended
Warranty at no additional cost for
a total Value of $1,199.00!
P E L I C A N B R E W I N G .CO M
Contact Renaud Power Systems for complete terms and conditions
www.RenaudElectric.com
360-423-1420
Family Friendly
Patio Seating
Brewery Tours
20 Beers on Tap
Growler Fills