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UNION COUNTY MARIJUANA IN LA GRANDE
NOT ENAMORED WITH DISPENSARY LOUIGE OUR
• Eviction proceedings approaching this week for Shelter From the Storm What do you think?
By Kelly Ducote The Observer
Cherise Kaechele/TheObserver
Armando Robles, owner of La Fiesta and neighbor of Green Apothecary, is concerned for his business with the medical marijuana dispensary open across the street. By Cherise Kaechele, The Observer
Green Apothecary has beenopenforjustovertwoweeks,butalready some ofthe dispensary's neighbors think it has overstayed its welcome. "I'm not in favor of it at all," said Sandee Fox, who lives just down the block from La Grande's one and only medical marijuana dispensary. Fox doesn't like that it's right down the street from her on Adams Avenue and doesn't want a dispensary in La Grande at all. Her neighbor, Armando Robles, said he doesn't want it across the street from his business either, and wants it"out of town," said the owner of La Fiesta. Robles admits the medical marijuana dispensaryisa com plicated subject,and as long as it stays under control then maybe there's a need for medical marijuana, but he doesn't want it across the street. Robles is passionate about what he does, and he's concerned for his business. "iThe city) never asked the neighbors
about moving a dispensary next door," Robles said."They tell us when a new business is coming in, but not when a dispensary comes in?" La Grande City Manager Robert Strope said the city wouldn't warn neighbors when a Starbucks is moving into the neighborhood, and the city wasn't required to give notice to neighbors for the dispensary. 'Thereisn'ta protocolforcontacting neighbors when a legal entity is moving in," Strope said.awe only do that when required." Strope said the dispensary is just another business. 'The city knew what our answers would be," Robles said."They knew we wouldn't want it."
Green Apothecary is co-owned by Randy and Rona Lindsey. Randy Lindsey refused numerous calls for comment. Robles, Fox and neighbors Maurice Nelson and Shirley Nelson, who live down the block, said they have not heard anything from the owners of the apothecary since opening their dispensary. 'They have not introduced themselves," Robles said.cWe're all trying to run a business." Fox said she doesn't want to hear about the Lindseys' business. 'Tve never been around marijuana before, and I don't like it at all," she said. "I wouldn't be interested in meeting with them or hearing anything they have to say." However, Robles suggested it would be See Neighbors / Page5A
houl regonlegaliiemariiuana~ • State could allow half-pound of marijuana By Taylor W. Anderson VVesCom News Service
SALEM — If Oregon legalizes pot, Mexico will be a more stable country, the state will save money and police can focus on m ore harmful drugs,U.S.Rep. Earl Blumenauer said during a debate held by the Salem City
to a half-pound of pot. Blumenauer, long critical of the nation's current pot laws, told a crowd of about 100 that Oregon has the chance to be at the forefront of reform he says Marquis will sweep the country over the next decade. Club on Friday. ''What we want to do is be One of Congress's most vocal proponents of federally legalizable to take the Wild West that's ing marijuana made his case in fundeddrug cartelsand be able favor of Oregon's Ballot Measure to turn it into a legitimate 91, which if passed in November tax-paying, regulated enterprise," would allow adults to possess up SeePot / Page5A
INDEX Classified.......4B Home.............1B Comics...........3B Horoscope.....5B Community...6A Letters............4A Crossvvord.....5B Lottery............2A Dear Abby .....SB Record ...........3A
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WE A T H E R Obituaries......3A
opinion..........4A Spo rts ............ 1 C State...............SA Sudoku ..........3B
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Fu l l forecast on the back of B section
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TODAY'S QUESTION Should the state of Oregon legalize marijuana like Colorado and Washington? SOUND OFF lagrandeobserver.com
Up next Shelter From the Storm and the county will appearin courtat 9:30 a.m. Friday in the first floor courtroom of the Union County Courthouse.
Ballot measure would create
college aid fund Inside
By Jonathan Cooper The Associated Press
SALEM — Students are facing a rising loan burden, and Oregon'sstate treasurer wantsthestate to be able to take on debtofits own to help them out. Ted Wheeler proposed a little-known measure that will appear on the November ballot. Measure 86 would amend the state constitution, creating an endowment that could be used only for student financial aid. It would also allow the state to take on debt to fill the kitty. He wants to start with $100 million. Oregon's college tuition is high, and state support for financial aid is low compared with other states, Wheeler sard. SeeBallot / Page5A
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Call The Observer newsroom at 541-963-3161 or send an email to news@lagrandeobserver.com. More contact info on Page 4A.
Issue 111 3 sections, 22 pages La Grande, Oregon
We want to hear your' thoughts. Email letters to the editor to news@ lagrandeobserver. com and join the conversation on The Observer Opinion page.
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SCHOOL TOGET NEW OWNER •000
Speakout
Shelter From the Storm and Union County will be back in court Friday for evictionproceedings. The proceedings follow a dismissal of a lawsuit brought against the county by the domestic violence nonprofit. An eviction of the Shelter From the Storm Advocacy Center is needed to facilitate construction of a new $3.1 million county courthouse, for which the county has been granted an unprecedented $2 million from the state. Union County commissioners unanimously voted to site the new court facility on the footprint of the SFS center in March. SeeShelter / Page5A
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A donation to House Republican Leader Mike McLane this yearvery likely means a donation to any Republican candidate — as is true for any donation to Democratic leaders in either chamber of the state Legislature. Page 8A
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