Oct/Nov 2016 Vol. 7 Issue 5
A l s o I n Th i s I s s u e : C h u rc h & S t a t e : U pd ates From Th e Capi tol A Rad i cal Th ou gh t, Ou r Col u m n from "Rad i cal " Ru ss Bel vi l l e Oregon 's Regu l ated Ca n n a b i s I s A M e ss Wh at To Expect From A n O H A G r o ws i t e V i s i t N ews N u ggets from O r e go n a n d t h e N a t i o n Food & Reci pes: S h o r t b re a d , Peach Cobbl er, & M u c h , M u c h M o re !
FR E E
A beautiful Pineapple Pomegranate strain from Roganja Farms/Massive Seeds. Image: Keith Mansur Oregon Cannabis Connection
Connecting Oregon's Marijuana Community Since 2010
In This Issue
Oct/Nov 2016
Oregon News
Medical News
Medford Police Citing Some For Medical Marijuana Grows
5
Why Few Call It Cannabis
5
At Church & State: Updates From The Capitol
6
OMBC Returns To Southern Oregon
6
OSGG: What To Expect From A OHA Site Visit
7
Oregon's Regulated Cannabis Is A Mess
7
Recent LUBA Decision and the Heightened Need for Public Awareness and Input
8
Oregon Cannabis Classic Raises $7,500 for MS Society
9
Oregon News Nugs - News From Around The Beaver State
Study Proves Medical Marijuana Can Replace Dangerous Pharmaceuticals
17
Cannabis During Pregnancy Poses No Significant Risk
17
Medical Marijuana's Pain Relief May Work Better for Men
17
Medical Marijuana for Parkinsons Treatment
18
Food & Recipes Double Dose Peach Cobbler Quinoa Corn Canna-Muffins Bake n' Sprouts Chocolate Chip Almond Shortbread
11
19
Cultivation
10
National News Guns or Ganja: The Feds Say You Can’t Have Both
Oregon Cannabis Connection
Curing Your Harvest
20
Bug Bites: For Bigger Buds - By Nature's Control
21
Fall Garden Care: The Key to Low-Input Cannabis Gardens
21
- By Green Source Gardens
Congress Fails To Give Veterans Fair And Equal Access To Medical Marijuana
11
A Radical Thought: What Happens to Medical Marijuana in a Legalized Nation? - By Russ Bellville
12
National Guard Used Helicopter to Raid 81-YearOld’s Home and Seize a Pot Plant
12
Review: Marley Natural® Flower Line
13
Maine Cannabis Legalization Measure National
13
Florida Going Medical
14
OCC Staff:
OCC Contributors:
15
Keith Mansur
Anthony Taylor at Church & State "Radical" Russ Belville A Radical Thought Nicholas Mahmood & Elizabeth Luca-Mahmood -
News Nugs - News From Around The Nation
23 Business Classifieds OREGON CANNABIS CONNECTION is a bi-monthly publication for the entire cannabis community in Oregon. Published by K2 Publishing Co. in Southern Oregon, we strive to inform the public on the value of medical marijuana, as well as provide news, information, and opinions concerning marijuana laws, legalization, and medicine. All information in OCC is intended for legal use by adults only. OCC is advertiser supported and over 21,000 copies are available FREE at over 380 locations across Oregon.
FOR A DISTRIBUTION LOCATION NEAR YOU, GO ONLINE TO WWW.OCCNEWSPAPER.COM Publisher/Managing Editor/Writer
Cheryl Smith
Industrial Hemp Oregon Congressional Delegation Leads The Way On Industrial Hemp
16
Oregon's Hemp Industry Takes Off
16
Copy Editor/Writer Advertising: Jamie Allen - OCCNewspaperJamie@gmail.com General Inquiries - OCCNewspaper420@gmail.com
Green Source Gardens
Nathan Jackson - Bug Bites: For Bigger Buds
Subscriptions are available within the U.S.A for 24.00 per year. Please visit www.OCCNewspaper.com to subscribe. Correspondence to: K2 Publishing P.O. Box 5552, Grants Pass, OR 97527 For more information contact us at 541-621-1723. Email us at occnewspaper420@gmail.com Next issue is Dec/Jan 2016, advertising DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 21, 2016!
Oregon News
Oct/Nov 2016
Medford Police Citing Some For Medical Marijuana Grows On September 22, 2016, Medford Police Department's Code Enforcement cited Jason Osborne, a resident who is growing medical marijuana in his backyard. This has become a commonplace practice in recent year,s but now it is a “code violation” that can apparently cost $250.00 per day if not brought into compliance. The officer has returned repeatedly.
Measure 15–145 is a “sales” tax of 3% on recreational marijuana which , if approved, is the maximum allowable sales tax that can be imposed on the plant and its products. Measure 15–166 would ban ALL outdoor growing in the city of Medford. No medical, no recreational, nothing would be permitted outdoors in areas zoned residential. A NO vote would continue the current four plant outdoor limit.
Image; Jason Osborne Video
“We never had a problem until this year,” Osborne told Oregon Cannabis Connection. "It doesn't seem fair to treat medical marijuana patients this way." Medford's city council passed a ordinance last year that banned growing more than four plants outdoors within city limits. The ordinance, which is likely overreaching in scope, prevents medical marijuana patients from growing in their own yards this year. In previous years, many thousands of people grew medical cannabis—some as many as 24 plants or more—with only 27 complaints in 12 months over last year.
Image: Jason Osborne
Osborne was featured on Rogue Cannabis Radio on September 6, a couple of weeks after he was visited by code enforcement and “warned” about the non-compliant grow in his backyard. He has grown at that address for three years, but this year was the first time he had a visit from the Medford police.
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None of these measure would provide relief to Osborne, because there would be no change to the four plant limit the city now imposes. The first visit by code enforcement was a month ago, so what took them so long to show up? Harvest time is next month. "At this point, it’s only a few weeks until harvest, so it seems unwarranted, really," explained Osborne. “I really do feel like it’s not fair [that the decision on] whether or not I can grow my medical garden lies in the hands of a disgruntled neighbor.”
Medford police have continued to visit Osborne and as of our publication date, October 10, 2016,he had been fined $1,500 and was looking at “This is exactly what I another $1,000 or more, anticipated would happen. before harvest was It’s a very slippery slope to completed. He has litigation because it is retained the legal possibly not a reasonable council of Grants Pass regulation that is allowed attorney Robert under state law,” Clay Graham of Evergreen Bearnson told Oregon Law Group. They plan Cannabis Connection. “It's Image; Jason Osborne to make the case a big a complete waste of deal, and push back resources.” legally on the medical grow restrictions communities are trying to impose. Medford had three measures dealing with marijuana that were referred to the ballot © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights by the city council for the November reserved. election: Measure 15–144 would ban recreational cannabis sales, which are currently banned in Medford. Voting NO would overturn the current and proposed ban.
Read Cannabis News That Matters, Read the OCC Newspaper!
On September 30, 2016, the state of Oregon banned the use of certain wellknown cannabis strain names from retail marketing. Green Crack, Grape Ape, and Bruce Banner will no longer be found in advertisements or printed upon store receipts. Some people question claims that such names are targeting the children of today, pointing out that the cartoon Grape Ape last aired in 1978, making the “child” who can recall it at least 45 years old. Others are glad to see names that reference substances other than cannabis, such as LSD, removed from the shelves. By-and-large, however, the response among the Oregon cannabis reform community is frustration and disappointment that legalization has resulted in a regulating-out of wellknown strain names. Perhaps because of prohibition, cannabis has been given many names through the past 160 years in the Americas. One of the earliest and most enduring of these names, the one still ensconced in federal and many state laws, is marijuana. It originated among Mexicans who had begun adopting the practice of decarboxylating THC-A, volatizing it, and inhaling it -- usually via smoking. Other Mexican slang terms for cannabis include mota, zacate, and mafafa. As cannabis smoking gained in popularity among working class racial minorities living along the Gulf of Mexico, and among jazz musicians (who would travel to major cities, bringing their muggles with them) we see new names adopted. The aforementioned “muggles” as well as Mezz, named after NYC jazz musician “Mezz” Mezzrow, and the more generic grass, smoke, reefer, and gage (the last thought to be a Americanization of “ganja,” the Hindu term for cannabis that would later be adopted and popularized in the West by Cont. on Page 8
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Anthony Taylor is the President of Compassionate Oregon and has unique access and insights into Oregon's lawmaking process, much of which takes place in the Capitol building, near the corners of Church and State streets in Salem.
Patients Taking Back Seat To Industry As everyone can now attest, transition can be messy. The new rules for testing, labeling, packaging and retail stores have put everyone into a tailspin. And once again, patients have taken a back seat to industry. Why? Well, it’s mostly everyone’s fault. It started with the scattered and often secretive approach some organizations took in crafting legislation—without vetting it through the community to avoid unintended consequences—and then fighting it out before the committee or, worse yet, behind closed doors. This disjointed approach has fractured the community’s ability to present a solid front on key issues for patients. When those issues are taken before a committee where only industry and regulatory agencies seem to have a voice, the needs of the patients receive little, if any, bandwidth. Issues such as better services—including timely OMMP responses and transparency regarding revenue generated by the program—remain uppermost in the minds of patients. The inability of OMMP staff to meet the 30-day statutory deadline for issuing cards continues to be contentious, especially because the program is generating enough revenue to provide for adequate staffing to meet the workload. Couple this with patients trying to get through when the phones are answered only four hours a day and you have a situation that is unacceptable. The OHA should be held accountable.
Oregon News
Image OCC Newspaper.
Other problems still facing patients include the $200 grow site registration fee and the ongoing boondoggle of reporting requirements. These issues have led many growers to stop growing and providing free medicine for the one or two patients they were previously serving. The most important issue facing patients, however, is the ongoing practice by many clinics, hospitals and residential care facilities that require physicians to refuse to prescribe appropriate medications for medical marijuana patients and, in some cases, mandatory, discriminatory pain management contracts. Many would like to see all marijuana growers governed by the OLCC—and there is a movement to legislate such a change. Most patient and their growers find this unacceptable. Putting a medical program under the auspices of the OLCC—an agency categorized as law enforcement by the state of Oregon—is tantamount to continuing to allow the DEA the final say in scheduling medicines. A lot of work remains to be done for patients. Ending discrimination against medical marijuana patients by Oregon’s medical establishment is essential to tens of thousands of Oregonians who successfully use cannabis as part of their health care plans. We must not stop working for patients until these obstacles to treatment and, ultimately, quality of life are addressed and rectified. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
The Oregon Marijuana Business Conference (OMBC) brings its combination of business information and political activism back to beautiful Ashland on November 19th and it will be a great time to get the latest on the medical and adult use regulations as well as get a glimpse into what to expect in the coming months. Last year's OMBC in Ashland was a sold-out event with a literal packed house and you will definitely want to join us at the Ashland Hotels and Suites for this one! The OMBC curriculum will be comprehensive as panels of entrepreneurs, experts and lawyers will present on all areas of the industry and will answer your burning questions. Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) licenses will be covered, along with the tracking and reporting requirements imposed by both the OLCC and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Testing, labeling and packaging requirements are certainly a hot-button issue, and will be discussed, as will the latest regulations imposed by Jackson and Josephine Counties. We certainly are concerned about small farmers and momand-pops, so we will have a special panel devoted to small businesses, touching upon the OLCC micro canopy and the latest medical regulations. We will give a preview of the upcoming legislative session and discuss how we can best protect and improve our cannabis laws, especially the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. OLCC Chair Rob Patridge will be on hand to provide insight into the OLCC's regulatory process and take hardhitting queries from attendees. Legendary grower Ed Rosenthal, the Image: Guru of Ganja, will be OCC Newspaper,. sharing some of his expertise while cannabis icon Tommy Chong will join us for a celebrity interview as he dishes on show business, his time as a political prisoner and his business ventures today. The OMBC not only provides great
Oregon Cannabis Connection
Image ICBC
information, but also presents great networking opportunities and good times, as Del the Funky Homosapien will be making an exclusive concert appearance for OMBC attendees. Oregon's cannabis laws have been changing rapidly over the last several years and the cannabis community has much to be proud about. We have stopped arresting and citing thousands of people for cannabis, thousands of jobs have been created and millions of dollars in tax revenue have been generated. There is still much work to be done, of course, as we continue to decrease criminal penalties and move towards a day that the cannabis community is treated fairly and equally across the state. Too often, patients and small business owners have felt the brunt of burdensome regulations, but a unified cannabis community has the opportunity to roll back overly restrictive regulations that will allow Oregon momand-pops to thrive and take care of customers and patients alike. The OMBC strives to help the Oregon cannabis community continue to make strides and provide an avenue for likeminded folks to learn, network and be as prepared as possible for current and future regulations. We are proud to keep political activism at the forefront of our curriculum and hope that folks across Oregon will join us in Ashland on November 19th as we work together to shape cannabis laws and regulations so they will work for everyone across our state. For tickets and more information, check out www.oregonmbc.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Ashland Alternative Health, Northwest Alternative Health in Eugene and by calling 541-488-2202. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
Oct/Nov 2016
Oregon News
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certified mail receipt, which they also accepted. It was in process and that’s what they wanted to see.
In an effort to inform and dispel rumors, we provide this information based on two OSGG Board members’ recent inspections from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). This is in no way to be construed as legal advice, or a guarantee of what may be asked for at your site. There are currently two inspectors in Southern Oregon from the OHA. They will be doing site inspections for the next week or so. They are starting with the largest grows first, especially those that have been grandfathered. They anticipate being in the area until the middle of October, then heading back to Portland.
They explained that they want to see EACH PLANT LABELED with the grower’s card number, the patient card number, the grower’s name. They said most sites they have visited have a code or map (with this information elsewhere) that is connected to a specific plant. They then crossreference and refer to that “master list,” if that’s what you have. They also said having each patient’s plants roped off separately with that information for the group was Okay. A code or map is all that is legally required, but having each plant labeled will help expedite the inspection. Then they split-up and each do a walkthrough the garden to COUNT PLANTS. Obviously this has to be equal to or fewer than what you are grandfathered for (if applicable) and what you have current grower cards for.
Both inspections we know about went smoothly. The inspectors DO have authority to enter your property, with your permission. This is NOT the sheriff or state police with a search warrant by any means! They call from the locked gate or on their way to your site and ask for access to the property. They have been willing to reschedule to the next day for one grower who had medical appointments, and to later in the day for a grower that was unavailable when they called in the morning. They are not giving “advance notice” of any kind, though. If you continually refuse to give them access, they can get an “administrative warrant” from the OHA and enter with law enforcement. They can also pull your cards and deny your ability to grow on the property if you refuse to allow inspections. So far we’ve seen no reason to be afraid of them, though. When they arrive they ask if you would like them to “suit-up” (jumpsuits/booties) to reduce the spread of contamination from other sites they have visited. - Have your patient cards on hand because they arrive with a master list of your patient and grower names. - They have their list, and you read them the names of your current patients, and they cross-reference. - Your cards need to be current, or in process at the OHA. - One board member had a patient’s “safety packet” and green certified mail receipt, but not the current Grower card, and they said they realize they are behind on issuing cards and that was fine. - Another member had the renewal application for a patient without the
They took a few pictures (not sure if this has to be allowed) and left. They stated that once plants are cut down and “no longer growing” they did not count toward the plant counts. They focused on the outdoor plants and cards at both sites we know about. They did NOT ask for access to the house or living area and the DO NOT have the right to inspect inside your house. They are expecting to have seven people on inspection staff for next year, including two people dedicated to southern Oregon. This is the same staff that inspects OHA dispensaries and processors, and they expect to have most of their staff focusing on outdoor grows late September through early October of next year. For now there are two inspectors in the area, their names are Stephen Pfuhl and Christopher Westfall. They called one grower from the cell number [NUMBER REDACTED], and appear to be doing inspections from about 8 AM until sometime in the evening. We encourage everyone to be courteous and respectful and have your paperwork and plant-tags in order. We have found the inspections to be low key and painless, and we expect the same for other growers in the area. When these inspectors report back OHA and State Legislators about SunGrowers, we want them to report that we are in compliance and are working to operate within the rules that have been laid out. There is a narrative that we are outlaws, and as invasive as the inspections are, they are a chance to demonstrate how false that narrative is. From the board of OSGG, we wish you a successful and low-stress harvest.
As we have been reporting for months (or is it years now?) Oregon's cannabis program(s) are in a state of flux. Recent months have brought changes to many aspects of the medical marijuana program and rollout of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission's (OLCC) recreational program: testing requirements, labeling requirements, reporting requirements and fencing requirements have changed. How is a person to keep up? It isn’t easy. Many farms and growers have not been licensed, while others were licensed right away. Dispensaries are in limbo due to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) delays, which have resulted in the OLCC not issuing licenses to those dispensaries due to their “temporary” licensing status. Some of these delays are due to licensees’ paperwork being incomplete, but others are due to a backlog and an overrun system. Food manufacturers have had to toss out tens of thousands of labels due to changes in the rules. And limitations on dosages have hampered many manufacturers. The licensing requirements and rules have forced others to drop out of the market completely. What was previously a sufficient requirement for the OHA is now not quite enough for the OLCC, in some cases. Additional labels were required on medical marijuana that was entered into the system before October 1, 2016, at OLCC-licensed dispensaries and must be labeled, “Does Not Meet New Testing Requirements.” These exalted new requirements are flexible, however. The OLCC is empowered to change some of the new testing requirements IF a logjam occurs—loosening the requirements for a couple of months to allow more time for licensed facilities to come on board. Why a logjam?
Image: OCC Newspaper.
Well, that would be because of the lack of certified and accredited labs to do all the needed testing on the cannabis. All the Oregon cannabis sold after October 1, 2016, must meet the new requirements, yet only a few labs are certified to do all the required tests. ORELAP was supposed to handle all the accreditation for proper certification, but they were overrun with applications—receiving 37 in July, just three months before the deadline. Of course, extracts were a problem earlier this year with the requirement that they be from licensed labs in Oregon, leaving a period where no extracts would be available for sale. Ths createdi a legislative blackout of extracts in Oregon. It was an example of bumbling; but they stumbled and did not fall. They changed the rule at the last minute—something which has been done a few time since—to avoid a prolonged shortage. Yet another deadline change to make up for a lack of preparation. So who is unprepared? Everyone, that's who. Measure 91 may not have allowed enough time to implement an effective system, in hindsight. They appeared to believe that that a year would be long enough for implementation, but the issues were large, and the medical marijuana meddling by the legislature's Joint Committee on Marijuana ate up most of the session in 2015, leaving little time to work on the real issue: a recreational system separate from the medical system. Cont. on Page 9
Oregon News
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Why Few Call It Cannabis
would be expected, when the combination of “land-race” genetics and local ecology had themselves been rendered moot by the uniformity of indoor cultivation methods.
their muggles with them) we see new names adopted. The aforementioned “muggles” as well as Mezz, named after NYC jazz musician “Mezz” Mezzrow, and the more generic grass, smoke, reefer, and gage (the last thought to be a Americanization of Image: Restored Louis Armstrong Image from Wikimedia.org
“ganja,” the Hindu term for cannabis that would later be adopted and popularized in the West by the Rastafarians). From the 1910’s through the 1950’s, those generic slang terms for cannabis were noted by musicians and authors of the time. With the mass popularization of cannabis consumption that would spread in the U.S., from about 1964 - 1979, we see an expansion of markets and a re-branding of strains. While novices might go looking for some weed, the entrepreneurs who would go on to establish the first global cannabis distribution markets would choose to start naming their cannabis for the locales where it was grown: Maui Wowie, Thai Stick, Durban Poison, Moroccan Blonde, Acapulco Gold, Panama Red. The 1980’s brought the Reagan Drug War, and massive resources were dedicated to interrupting cannabis supply chains. Importing cannabis to the U.S. brought increased risk. Many cannabis importers shifted to the much more profitable and more
Michael Pollan, in The Botany of Desire, points out that there may be no plant species on the planet that has been more modified than cannabis. Indeed, prohibition provided market incentives to control genetics, to maximize THC-A production (and now CBD, under a less-prohibitive model). In the past decade, people have again been seeking landrace strains, necessary for the full mapping of the cannabis genome. And while the original genetics of Acapulco Gold can be found among global seed companies, without that blazing Acapulco sun and Gulf breezes, the end product remains an artifice, a simulacrum of what could be had in 1974. What are the implications of Oregon’s ban on certain strain names? Growers, processors, and retailers will come up with new ones. The banned names will be abbreviated or altered slightly (Oregon Ape, Oregon Banner, etc.). Future strains will be given either more overtly commercialized names (“ThisSeedCompany’s” #22, or those celebrity brands we’re already seeing) or we may see strain names move into a more nebulous form. Branding takes on forms that fit the production and distribution chains, and will educate and allow consumers to identify and differentiate products. Ultimately, the differences among well-grown cannabis flowers are small, and the majority of consumers will not have the capability to differentiate between (banned) Grape Ape and (acceptable) Grandaddy Purps, outside the labeling on the package. That there is little noticeable difference among fresh, highend cannabis flowers is why growers and marketers have utilized such a wide spectrum of names. People crossing cannabis strains is not a new practice, but the desire to differentiate that cross from all others is the product of a competitive marketplace. One that will only become more competitive, under legalization. Keith Saunders is on the NORML Board of Directors and the Principal of Colita Verde, a cannabis consultancy. On Twitter @TheMDSiA. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
Oregon Cannabis Connection
Recent LUBA Decision and the Heightened Need for Public Awareness and Input Last April, Sandra Diesel, president of Right to Grow USA, Inc., a southern Oregon-based nonprofit growers group, challenged two zoning ordinances, Ordinance 2016-3 and 2016-4, respectively, wherein Jackson County adopted amendments to the Jackson County Land Development Ordinance that resulted in the prohibition of medical marijuana grows on land zoned ‘rural residential’. Among other arguments put forward by Diesel, the petition claimed that the rules, as written, are not reasonable, citing ORS 475B.500(1)(d), which defines ‘reasonable regulations’ to include “reasonable limitations on where the marijuana grow site of a person designated to produce marijuana by a registry identification cardholder…may be located.” The petition was ultimately denied on September 23rd, with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) siding with the County, and an estimated 3,500 cannabis growers on rural residential land in Jackson County have been impacted, as a result. In its final opinion and order, LUBA agreed with the County’s argument that growers can still grow in other zones, stating "[that] not allowing it [marijuana production] in a residential zone that would presumably present more potential for conflicts with residential uses, does not seem 'extreme' or 'excessive,' and could accurately be described as 'moderate.’” Putting the question of ‘reasonableness’ aside, it is worth noting that the option to be ‘grandfathered in’ through an application for non-conforming use still exists for those medical marijuana growers who had been growing on rural residential land prior to the ordinance being passed. In fact, several of my clients, who had been growing medical marijuana prior to this year’s ordinance, have opted to pursue this avenue and are expecting a decision to be issued shortly, now that LUBA has released its decision. It is also worth noting that, as of the date of the LUBA decision, only 53 applications for nonconforming use had been received, with the vast majority of these being fueled by neighbor complaints to county code enforcement officials, per Kelly Madding,
Images: Keith Mansur, OCC Newspaper.
Director for Jackson County Development Services. While officials in Jackson County do not appear to be heavily focused on pursuing violations of the new ordinance, unless they are investigating complaints from neighbors or others concerned about illegal grows, the application for nonconforming use remains a viable option for growers who have been growing on rural residential land before the ordinance went into effect last spring. Most significantly, the recent LUBA decision serves to highlight the continued need for public input prior to the adoption of new zoning regulations, as well as the importance of voting at the upcoming local elections in November. In 53 communities across that state of Oregon (47 cities and 6 counties), various legalization measures related to bans on legal marijuana businesses, both medical and recreational, are on the election ballots this coming November. In Medford alone, there are three separate voter initiatives that are related to cannabis growing and retail bans for the November ballot, namely: 1) 15-144, which purports to continue the ban on recreational marijuana sales in Medford, 2) 15-145, which would impose an additional 3% city tax on recreational marijuana sales (should measure 15-144 not be approved and the ban on recreational marijuana sales in Medford be lifted; note that the 3% city tax would be in addition to the 17% tax that the state plans to impose on recreational sales), and Cont. on next page
Image Courtesy: Rays Ace Grow Lights
easily concealable cocaine. Domestic fly-overs by National Guard helicopters, surveiling both public and private lands, made outdoor cultivation more difficult than in the prior decade. It took a few years, but the domestic U.S. marijuana farm would more and more be moved indoors. In 1988, High Times magazine hosted the first Cannabis Cup, in Amsterdam. The winning strain was called William’s Wonder. No geographic region specified. WW was from a Dutch cultivator, carefully cross-pollinated by particular parentage. It was perhaps the first strain of cannabis that never saw the sun, being bred and propagated solely under high pressure sodium and metal halide lighting. Later HT Cup winners would include: Silver Haze, Blue Cheese, Cannatonic, Kosher Kush, and Chocolope. Geographic designations disappeared, as
Oregon News
Oct/Nov 2016
Recent LUBA Decision 3) 15-166, which would prohibit both outdoor recreational and medical marijuana grows in residential areas (a ban on all outdoor growing, effectively). The Voter’s Pamphlet outlining each proposed measure can be found at: www.jacksoncountyor.org/clerk/Elections/Elect ion-Archives/
Oregon Cannabis Classic Raises $7,500 for MS Society
OLCC Deadlines & Rules Changes ... Again.
The 3rd Annual Oregon Cannabis Classic golf tournament was held September 24th at Cougar Canyon Golf Course in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. The tournament is a benefit for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and this years event raised $7,500 for the charity, twice as much as last years event.
OLCC released first group of licensed recreational dispensaries. On the list four times is the chain Nectar with dispensaries in Portland, Eugene, and Gresham and also Breeze Botanicals noticeably has two locations in Southern Oregon towns of Gold Hill and Ashland. 26 dispensaries in all were licensed in this first round, with hundreds more to come over the coming weeks.
While the LUBA decision represents a setback for medical marijuana growers in the southern part of our state, it is important to note that further proposed measures that are also potentially adverse to Oregon’s cannabis industry are looming and that voters can make a difference by getting out and doing their part by voting on November 8th. Natalie Wetenhall is a ‘cannabusiness’ attorney and a founding partner at Evergreen Law Group, LLC (www.evergreenlawgroup.net). Natalie is licensed in Oregon, Washington, New York and the District of Columbia.
Oregon's Cannabis Mess The legislators laid down deadlines that were unreasonable, in many cases—especially after their aforementioned meddling. Many issues arose after administrative rules were passed, in large part due to the lack of focus on the recreational system during the session. Legislators were apparently convinced that 70% of all the medical marijuana was leaving the state, and believed it had to be closely monitored to prevent federal interference in the program. In the end, they screwed up the medical program severely and hastily wrote rules for the recreational side. The result is a big mess in Oregon and for growers, patients, and businesses that deal in cannabis.
“I appreciate the hard work of the OLCC staff and our government, community and industry partners in achieving our October 1, 2016 goal of licensing our first marijuana retailers,” Rob Patridge, Chair of the OLCC, said in a press release.
Cougar Canyon in Myrtle Creek, Beautiful, scenic, and Green Sand Bunkers! Image: Keith, OCC Newspaper
Organized by The Greener Side dispensary of Eugene, Oregon, the event was another success and featured yet another stellar golf course, just one of many across Oregon. Cougar Canyon was a breathtaking course with two separate canyons encompassing the course. Elevation changes were the challenge for the day as each side of the course rose easily 200 feet in elevation, or more, above the canyon floors. The result is great views and challenging shots, and a cart is a must. Clyde Johnson, the club pro, made everyone feel at home, and even manned the keg for us at the turn! As with previous years the event featured great sponsors that made it all happen, including Illuminati Medicinals, the Title Sponsor of the event. Other major sponsors were Southern Oregon Alternative Medicine who provided the musical entertainment for the evening, and OG Analytical who provided the food after the tournament. Bill & Tim's BBQ was entrusted with the eats, and they did not disappoint with great BBQ and more than anyone could eat. The event is a scramble, which allows for very low scores provided your team has a couple of good players. That was definitely true for Eco GroWear, who walked away with the Classic Cup! NW Kind was second place, and third was Smokiez.
Overall, OLCC has approved over 300 licensees in the different categories, including producers, processors, wholesalers, and most recently retailers...On September 30th, JUST in time for the launch October 1st! OLCC NEWS RELEASE: OLCC, OHA Act to Address Marijuana Pesticide Testing Capacity Flexibility Provided to Industry for Meeting Package Labeling Standards September 30, 2016 - Portland The Oregon Liquor Control Commission and the Oregon Health Authority today announced temporary rules that will allow flexibility in the collection of marijuana samples bound for pesticide testing, as well as in how marijuana products are packaged and labeled. In doing so, the agencies took into consideration feedback from the Joint Committee for Marijuana Legalization and the marijuana market. OLCC will allow a smaller number of batches in each harvest lot to be tested, as opposed to all batches in the lot, according to OLCC policy guidance that will be issued to laboratories and the industry no later than Monday Oct. 3, 2016, based on lab capacity. That guidance will describe the required number of tests as laboratory capacity builds and the conditions that will trigger increased testing requirements
Page 9 for marijuana batches destined for the recreational marijuana market. To protect medical users of marijuana, OHA is prioritizing testing among existing accredited laboratories to ensure they test 100 percent of the 10 pound harvest batches they receive. This scientific process involves testing of 10 pound batches of like harvest strains of marijuana called “lots.” OHA is responsible for developing and implementing testing rules for both medical and recreational marijuana. OLCC also will work closely with laboratories that will report their testing capacity on a weekly basis. Based on work with OHA and the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP) along with data reported by laboratories that are accredited or seeking accreditation, OLCC will continue to increase laboratory testing capacity and expects to be able to test 100 percent of all 10 pound batches in four to six weeks. However, the actual timing of that move will be based on OLCC’s review of testing lab data to determine when the system has capacity to provide for more testing. The State of Oregon’s marijuana testing program is the most comprehensive effort to protect consumers and is the first of its kind in the nation. Both industry and state agencies expect the implementation of this groundbreaking effort to be developmental, but it is clear in the law that high standards are required. ”Based on what we have learned from the nationwide legalization effort, it is more important than ever to ensure certain products that make it to shelves are free from pesticides and contaminants," Governor Kate Brown said. Working with industry and laboratories to accomplish this is essential to state policy. “The temporary rules hold to goals the Legislature set out for testing of marijuana and OHA and OLCC are doing all they can to utilize certified lab capacity to screen out products tainted by pesticides and other contaminates”, said Andre Ourso, manager of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program at OHA.” He also commended the labs that rushed into the market and, invested hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, to get state certified accreditation by the state to test. “What they Cont. on Page 22
Eco GroWear winning team.
Image: OCC Newspaper
It's remarkable how few people are aware of coming changes. The OLCC and OHA make most of this information available online. The OCC Newspaper has been covering many of the changes, but we don't hit it all. It takes diligence to be prepared in this cannabis climate. Many businesses try to keep up, but a lot of new rules, licenses, and expenses were unforeseen by many. In the end, its still working and we have done a better job than Colorado or Washington in implementation, but then again, we were not first and had the benefit of learning from their mistakes. Oregon's cannabis programs are a mess, but they are still workable, and fixable. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
Anyone who wants to see the original Cannabis Classic Cup, it will remain at The Greener Side while the winner will get a replica each year. The winning team will have their name inscribed on the original Cup. For information on becoming a sponsor of next years event, contact The Greener Side in Eugene at (541) 345-8904. Space is limited, but the event is sure to be a blast! © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
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Oregon News Nugs Don't Ask, Don't Tell in Oregon for Gun Purchasers Oregon Cannabis Connection
In a recent ruling, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision that medical marijuana patients could be considered “illegal drug users” even though they may be medical “patients” in their respective states. Gun owners are up in arms in these medical marijuana states and consider the decision discrimination at best, and outright violation of the 2nd Amendment under the US Constitution, at worst. But in Oregon, where every medical marijuana patient must register with the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP), there is no way for gun stores to check the OMMP system to determine whether a potential purchaser is a registered medical marijuana patient. The reason is simple. The OMMP information is considered confidential in Oregon and is controlled by the Oregon Health Authority, and gun store owners have no reason to have access to this sensitive, personal information. Under the OMMP, outside access to the database is strictly limited to law enforcement, they may only be told whether a person is a patient or not or whether a site is registered to grow, and only when necessary. A firearms purchaser must fill out a Firearms Transaction Record that is provided the US Department of Justice. The form asks customers if they are “an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” A gun store owner in Salem, Todd Koonce, told the Statesman Journal, “It wouldn’t come up in a gun sale, unless they admit to being a medical marijuana user … I think people are smarter than to tell something like that.” Doug Raaf, who runs Gun Crafters Firearms & More, told the Statesman Journal, “They’re making us the police … I think it’s confusing.”
Oregon News Votes To End Prohibition Oregon Cannabis Connection
Municipalities across Oregon will have initiatives on the ballot this November, which will decide the fate of 53 marijuana-related measures—29 in the metro Portland area alone. After the passage of Measure 91 in 2014, and the legislatures slice and dice of the initiative the following two years, certain areas were granted permission to temporarily ban cannabis. Many have chosen to go to the ballot with referendums. The theme is a simple question, “Do we want marijuana sold or grown in our community?”, and the answers are varied, depending on the initiative. It can be tricky, because in some jurisdictions the answer is “Yes,” and others may need to say “No” to allow recreational sales by lifting an existing ban, as in Medford. Most communities require a “No” vote to lift prohibition. Douglas county citizens placed initiatives on the ballot to allow the new industry in all aspects of licensing, including retail sales—a measure that will reverse an existing ban on recreational licensing in the county. In their case, a “Yes” vote is what a supporter would cast.
Image UCA
Nineteen of the Portland communities have a tax on the ballot, as well. They are allowed to impose a local 3% tax, in addition to the 17% tax the state will grab. “The reason why all these measures are out there is that there are a lot of pockets in this state that just disagree with the (2014) statewide vote,” said Jim Moore, a political science professor at Pacific University, to Beaverton Valley Times. But many communities just miss out on easy tax revenue. Shawn Aman, owner of Going Green Medical dispensary in Albany, explained to Northwest News, “We have 10 to 12 people a day come in to ask to purchase recreational, and we have to send them to Corvallis, Salem or Springfield.”
I think we can show them that Oregon communities are not afraid of cannabis and welcome the jobs, revenue, and increased industry and commerce in areas that support it. For one community to say it’s “okay” and one just 12 miles away to say “no way” just does not make sense to us.
Oregon Cannabis Connection counties. It is important to cast your vote, and make sure you vote! Support the cannabis trade in Oregon, and vote to end prohibition once and for all! © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
All in all, 53 Oregon communities have referendums on their ballots, including six
The O regon Cann abi s Ban Li st! as of Sept 29, 201 6
Oct/Nov 2016
National News
from, their personal VA physician about medical marijuana.”
In practice, the federal prohibition against casual pot users owning guns isn’t often enforced.
Even in states where marijuana is legal, users aren’t allowed to buy firearms.
If you smoke dope, you can’t own a gun. At least not legally. Marijuana is now legal for medicinal or recreational purposes in more than half of states. But the federal government still classifies the popular drug as a Schedule 1 narcotic, leaving pot-using gun owners in a bind. On every background check completed at a federal firearms dealer, prospective buyers are explicitly asked if they are a “user of, or addicted to” the substance. A “yes” answer means the gun seller can’t go through with the transaction. A “no” answer — if false — is a crime punishable as a felony, with up to five years in prison. Russ Belville, the news director of CannabisRadio.com, tells The Trace it puts marijuana users in a quandary. “Your choice is to perjure yourself or not get your gun,” he says. In Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, adults can legally purchase, own, and consume marijuana. Twenty additional states allow medicinal pot. A slim majority of Americans, 53 percent according to a 2015 Pew study, now support legalization, compared with just 12 percent who did so in 1969. The discrepancy between what a state may permit, and what the federal government explicitly outlaws, has caused well-documented problems for pot sellers, who have trouble simply opening a bank account, and users, who face arrest if they forget they have a joint in a pocket and board an airplane. Would-be gun owners face a similar dilemma. In 2011, Oregon sheriffs stripped Cynthia Willis of her concealed handgun permit after she obtained a medical marijuana card. Authorities argued that federal law prohibited drug users from purchasing firearms, and therefore Willis could not be issued a permit to carry a firearm. The Oregon Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of allowing medical marijuana patients in the state to obtain concealed carry permits. As Oregon was relaxing its rules, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives issued a refusal to step back from standing policy. “There are no exceptions in federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes,” an open letter by a senior agency official to gun dealers reads, “even if such use is sanctioned by state law.” Furthermore, the letter reiterated that gun stores are banned from selling to people if they “have reasonable cause to believe” they use cannabis. (A footnote explains that “the Federal government does not recognize marijuana as a medicine.”) In December, several medical marijuana patients in Illinois received letters from police informing them that their gun permits were being revoked, even though lawmakers had opted two years earlier to allow legal users to own firearms. The state later informed the patients that the letter was a mistake, and they were allowed to keep their permits.
“There’s no tracking or database of recreational marijuana users, so unless you go into the gun shop with pot in your hand, or say ‘I just bought some weed and now I’d like a firearm,’ they’re not going to catch you,” Belville says. But medical marijuana patients face a greater risk of discovery. “In most of the 23 states where it’s legal, registration is mandatory,” Belville says. “Possession of a medical marijuana card can be enough to disqualify you from purchasing a firearm.”
A final version of the Department of Veterans Affairs funding bill was passed by Congress on September 28th. The funding bill originally included a provision that would have made it easier for military veterans to access medical marijuana in states where medical marijuana
Employees at gun shops contacted by The Trace in the four states where recreational marijuana use is legal say they are not aware of any instances in which a customer got in trouble with federal authorities for lying on a background check application. But gun owners who use marijuana say they feel the federal ban should be rescinded. They argue that the restriction forces too many otherwise law-abiding people to choose between surrendering their guns in order to obtain the medication they need to combat an illness; keeping their firearms and forgoing the drug; or lying and facing criminal penalties. A spokesperson for the Alaska Cannabis Club says that before the state legalized the substance in 2015, “many people battling illnesses that could have been treated with cannabis were fearful that adding their names to the state’s medical marijuana registry would threaten their right to bear arms, which prevented many from pursuing cannabis as an alternative treatment.” The discord between state and federal positions has even spurred some conservative lawmakers to speak out in favor of the fight for gun owners to use marijuana. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who opposed the 2014 “legalize it” Ballot Measure 2, now says she nonetheless considers the federal policy on gun ownership and marijuana use to be unfair. On March 2, she sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch outlining her concerns. “It is my judgment that denying Americans the personal Second Amendment right to possess firearms as articulated by the Supreme Court in Heller for mere use of marijuana pursuant to state law is arbitrarily overbroad and should be narrowed,” it reads. She has an unlikely ally in this position in NORML, a pro-marijuana legalization advocacy group. In an end-of-year letter in 2014, NORML’s executive director Allen St. Pierre listed gun rights as one of a number of important issues for adult cannabis consumers. One constituency reluctant to join the cause: the major gun groups. “I’ve reached out to the [National Rifle Association] on this issue and they’ve shown zero interest, they won’t touch it with a 10-foot pole,” Belville says. “This is speculation, but I think there’s a political bent to it in that NRA supporters generally like the phrase ‘law-abiding gun owner,’ which to them, isn’t pot smokers.” © 2016 The Trace. www.thetrace.org. Reprinted with special permission. All rights reserved.
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is legal. Unfortunately, that provision was stripped before the final bill was passed. Below is more information about it, via a press release that I received from Congressman Earl Blumeuaer’s office: Despite Congress’s rush to get out of town, Republican leadership still found time to use the continuing resolution legislation to block Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s Veterans Equal Access provision to make it easier for qualified veterans to access state-legal medical marijuana. The provision was passed by both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate with broad bipartisan support earlier this year. Republican leadership, however, removed the provision from the final Department of Veterans Affairs funding bill that passed Congress on Wednesday night. “It’s incredibly frustrating and disappointing that despite broad bipartisan, bicameral support, a handful of out-of-touch lawmakers put politics over the well-being of America’s wounded warriors. Our veterans deserve better,” said Blumenauer. “We will continue to seek every opportunity to make sure they have fair and equal treatment and the ability to consult with, and seek a recommendation
Since 2014, Blumenauer has led the effort to make it easier for qualified veterans to access medical marijuana – which can be used in many states to treat a variety of conditions, including post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries frequently suffered by veterans. The House this year passed, with broad bipartisan support, his Veterans Equal Access amendment to strike down the Department of Veterans Affairs policy that specifically prohibits its medical providers from completing forms allowing a qualified veteran to participate in a state medical marijuana program. The Senate passed a similar proposal. Despite bipartisan and bicameral support, the language was stripped from the final legislation by Republican leadership in a closed-door conference committee. In response, Blumenauer and a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers urged Congressional leadership to include the provision in the final funding bill sent to the president. In August, Blumenauer released an open letter to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), a vocal opponent of the proposal during Senate consideration and on the conference committee that determined the final language of the legislation, calling on him to show respect and compassion for veterans, change course, and support the bipartisan proposal. © 2016 WeedNews.co. All rights reserved. Printed by special permission.
Image: Wolf Kind
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Oregon Cannabis Connection
implementation of a combined regulated market as soon as 2018. A combined California market is significant, not only because of its sheer size (~55% of the U.S. market), but also it would mark the first state to implement regulations for a fully legal market without initial oversight of medical use purchases. This could serve as a catalyst for similar action in Nevada, Arizona, Massachusetts and Maine.” But as more states legalize, any need to keep medical and recreational programs separate will begin to fade.
A Radical Thought
This election, we have five states that are medical marijuana states voting on marijuana legalization. What will happen to their medical marijuana programs if legalization passes? For guidance, we can look to the first four states to legalize (and DC), which are also medical marijuana states. Alaska and DC hadn’t much of a medical marijuana program to affect. Colorado seems to have had little disturbance as it runs two parallel systems of medical and recreational marijuana markets, even to the point of a single building serving only medical customers on one side and only recreational customers on the other, from completely separate inventories of mostly the same products. Oregon has experienced some cutbacks on the largest-sized medical gardens and imposition of new reporting requirements, as the state maintains two regulatory agencies but has somewhat merged the retail sales of cannabis products. Washington has fared the worst, with severe reductions in patient cultivation and possession limits and a forced integration of the medical and recreational market into one regulatory system. Unfortunately for reformers, the Washington example of single-market integration is going to be the one economics and politics eventually forces upon the other medical marijuana states that legalize. GreenWave Advisors recently released a report on the future of the marijuana market that makes this logical conclusion: “We note the beginning of what we characterize as a marijuana market metamorphosis as states with both legalized medical and recreational use evaluate the practicality of a merged regulatory regime. We see this effort presently in Washington, Oregon and Alaska and expect that Colorado will soon follow…. “Should California vote to legalize recreational use this November, we expect
The reason medical marijuana even exists in the first place is in opposition to the prohibition on marijuana for everyone. Marijuana smokers and cannabis growers get searched, ticketed, fined, arrested, and imprisoned, so we created medical marijuana laws to provide the patients with an exception to arrest. In legal states, we only keep the separate regulations because limits for recreational consumers must be kept low enough to discourage diversion into illegal markets out-of-state, while patients need far more cannabis. But if we were to cease searching, ticketing, fining, arresting, and imprisoning all cannabis consumers nationwide, then what would be the need for separate regulations and markets for the ones who are sick? Medical marijuana is going to be impacted by legalization, no matter how the legalization is written, because legalization begins to undermine the entire purpose of having a medical marijuana law in the first place – protecting patients and their providers from cops. If advocates for medical use of whole-plant cannabis want to ensure the best policies for patients, it’s time, then, to adjust to the reality that state governments are not going to support duplicate bureaucracies to regulate the same plant for two different classes of consumers. With legalization, all use of cannabis will be personal use, but medical needs will be met by “medicallyendorsed” providers and patients will be granted greater possession and cultivation rights. Eventually, in a fully-legalized nation, there is no worry about out-of-state diversion, aside from extreme tax differences that make smuggling profitable. Tobacco’s a prime example, where the low taxes in Virginia and North Carolina lead to vanloads of cigarette cartons being sold illegally to undercut the high taxes in Manhattan. But alcohol doesn’t seem to be smuggled much, even though Washington has taxes over $35 a gallon and Colorado’s taxes are a little about $2 a gallon. With no overwhelming need to prevent diversion, what’s the point in mandating marijuana possession limits? RAND Corporation estimated that fully legal marijuana in California alone could be priced as low as $38 an ounce. Fully legal marijuana nationwide should drive the prices down to a few dollars per pound. At those prices, trying to sell off ounces is uneconomical as smuggling those six packs of Corona. So who Cont. on Page 14
Though Americans are growing increasingly comfortable with the prospect of legal marijuana, the Massachusetts National Guard and the state’s police are proving resistant to change — so much so that last month, they used a military helicopter to raid an elderly woman’s home over a single cannabis plant. At the end of September, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported, both entities waged a mission to confiscate weed from Massachusetts residents, sweeping through neighborhoods and snatching up sprouting cannabis plants that were “outside and in plain view” from homeowners’ yards. Of 44 plants seized in the operation last month, one case, in particular, has incited outrage. On September 21, police cruised through Amherst, Northampton, and other areas of the state to scan yards for plants. In South Amherst, the Gazette reported, the National Guard and state police targeted the home of 81-year-old Margaret Holcomb. Margaret was growing a single cannabis plant in a raspberry patch so she could use it to treat her arthritis and glaucoma, as well as to fall asleep at night. Though Massachusetts made medical marijuana legal in 2012, only patients with certain approved conditions may hold a license. Glaucoma is one of the approved conditions to qualify for a license, but Margaret does not currently possess one. She has concerns about obtaining cannabis the “legal” way. As the Gazette noted: “She worries about the challenges in getting a doctor to sign off on her need, and the costs of obtaining medicine with the only dispensary in Hampshire County provided by New England Treatment Access at 118 Conz St. in Northampton.” The real offense is arguably not her lack of a license, but rather, the government’s willingness to confiscate what amounts to medicine from a senior citizen — or anyone, for that matter. Authorities first employed a “military-style” helicopter to initiate their joint raid on Holcomb. She was not home at the time of the raid, but her son, Tim Holcomb, was. The Gazette reported: “Holcomb said he was at his mother’s home eating a late lunch with his sister when they heard whirring blades and looked up to see a military-style helicopter circling the property, with two men crouching in an open door and holding a device that he suspects was a thermal imager to detect marijuana plants.”
I m ag e D ai l y H am ps h i re G azette
Ten minutes later, he says, a truck filled with confiscated marijuana plants pulled up to Holcomb’s home. Several state troopers approached the property, and one showed his badge. “He asked me if I knew there was a marijuana plant growing on the property. I didn’t answer the question. I asked, ‘What are you doing here?’” Tim says he was told the officers were not interested in filing criminal charges, and rather, simply wanted to confiscate the “contraband.” The plants they had been collecting were slated to be destroyed in a controlled incineration. According to the Gazette, no criminal charges were filed against anyone that day. While this is might be progress — as opposed to arresting users — the officers’ behavior was questionable in other ways. “Holcomb said he was told that as long as he did not demand that a warrant be provided to enter the property or otherwise escalate the situation, authorities would file no criminal charges,” the Gazette noted. Tim believes their actions constituted an “unlawful surveillance and illegal search and seizure.” “If the state has a problem with people being discreet, the state has to use due process,” he contended. He said the whole situation is “scary as hell” and is now working to schedule a community meeting to advocate for legalization. He cited mass incarceration and racial profiling as negative effects of prohibition. Michael Cutler, a criminal attorney, says operations like the one conducted last month have increased in the state since medical marijuana became legal in the state in 2012. “We’re seeing the last throes of police hostility to the changing laws,” he said. “They’re taking the position that if it’s in plain view, it’s somehow illegal.” He believes police may be “stretching the definition of ‘plain view’” and questions the use of taxpayer funds for these types of operations. “Is this the way we want our taxpayer money spent, to hassle an 81-year-old and lawabiding patients?” Cutler asked. He added it’s likely “authorities are using budgeted funds, prior to the end of the Cont. on Page 14
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Oct/Nov 2016
Marley Natural has released a line of cannabis flower that is sungrown and locally sourced. That means you can expect Oregon-grown buds in Oregon sun—this is not something I can say of many other large-scale companies, which prefer indoor controlled environments over natural sungrown cultivation. Each prepackaged eighth comes in a glass jar with a rubber sealed wooden lid, and that's pretty cool, even for a seasoned smoker like me. Marley Natural packages their four varieties by strain type and, having tried each, I can now give our readers a little taste by way of imagination.
Maine looks likely to become one in a group of states to legalize recreational use and sale of cannabis next month. Question 1, as it’s known, has traveled a path fraught with dramatic twists and turns; but this November, the people will finally have their say. . Image: Jamie Allen, OCC Newspaper
that project done, and then realize that my day is long gone. Marley Gold won't put you out of your day, but will help you skate through it—probably with a smile on your face. Marley Black—Did I mention that I'm a seasoned smoker? Marley Black is the Marley Natural's indica strain, suggested for nighttime use. This is probably a good choice for new smokers, but it wasn't quite enough to knock me to my knees. Regardless, it provided a body buzz and accompanied a glass of red wine very nicely with its deep, woody flavor. This is probably because Marley Black was perfectly cured and the densest of the Marley strains.
Image: Jamie Allen, OCC Newspaper
Marley Red—This high CBD high strain was the perfect option just after I picked up my samples, since my neck had been kinked all weekend. The Marley Red buds are more airy than other varieties, but you still can tell that Marley Red was carefully cured and the smooth smoke quickly made up for the lack of density. But did it relieve my neck? It definitely reduced my anxiety from the tension, and made me more excited to try the next strain. Marley Gold—Marley Natural's sativa is a great starter bud for someone looking to smoke and still be active. It won't knock you off of your feet, but it will deliver a nice, gentle buzz while you do dishes, have tea with friends or read a good book. As a long-time smoker, I tend to reach for something too strong, with every intention of still getting
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Marley Green—This hybrid is where Marley Natural flower impressed me most. It takes you slowly, coming on about 10 minutes after burning, and gently wraps itself around your brain and limbs. The peak is a good hour of body/brain bliss, and then it slowly unwinds and lets you go as gently as it came on. Watch out, though, because in my three separate smoke sessions of Marley Green, I found myself wanting to take the best and maybe longest nap of my life when the buzz was over. My usual advice for cannabis is to try it for yourself, because as any connoisseur knows, everyone's experience is a little different. In my case, I found myself a mix of Marley Green and Marley Black to be the perfect bedtime smoke. You might prefer just the Black, and maybe Marley Gold will be perfect for your nausea- —I really couldn't tell you, because I didn't have nausea. Marley Natural's flowers, priced at $40 an eighth, are worth trying. Besides, no matter which variety you decide to try out, you'll get that really great jar. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
The bill, which would allow the sale of flower, edibles and concentrates in recreational dispensaries not unlike those in Oregon, has been popular with the citizenry of the state for a long time, while they fought a long battle to make it a referendum. Maine has already had legal medicinal cannabis since 1999. Adults age 21 and over would be allowed up to 2.5 ounces of “prepared marijuana,” which they would only be allowed to use in private residences. The proposed 10% tax on the sale of cannabis in Maine is notably lower than that in Oregon or Washington. Though things are looking positive for the referendum, they weren’t always so rosy. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, funded and conceived by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), has a multi-state strategy for this November, which includes Arizona, California, Massachusetts and Nevada, in addition to Maine. But there was unique drama in the Pine Tree State. According to an Associated Press piece by Tom Bell from March of this year, the MPP delivered over 99,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot, only to have over 47,000 of them invalidated at the last moment. This left them over 9500 signatures short. A large number of the signatures—17,000—were eliminated because of a handwriting technicality by the notary who stamped them. It didn’t help when that notary was found to have a checkered past. For a time the measure appeared doomed. Then on April 27, a judge reversed the invalidation of over 11,000 signatures, vaulting Question 1 onto the ballot. Proponents of the measure cite the windfall of tax revenue cannabis sales can bring to
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the state, and have been touting a June report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that cited a drop in teen use since widespread legalization and normalization of marijuana. That’s not to say there aren’t entrenched opponents. A September 9 Portland Press Herald article reported that the Maine Association of Chiefs of Police were coming out in force against legalization, citing an overwhelming lack of preparedness by Maine law enforcement to deal with widespread usage. Their president, Falmouth Police Chief Ed Tolan, was quoted in the piece as describing cannabis as a “harmful and addictive illegal drug, jeopardizing the healthy development of young people.” But polls taken in March and September of this year by the Maine People’s Resource Center and Portland Press Herald show support for the measure holding steady at 53%. The question will be settled at the polls on November 8, with the economic fate of the state hanging in the balance. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
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On November 8th, Floridians will vote on legalizing medical marijuana for patients suffering from a specific and serious set of conditions. While a restrictive legalization that would only allow physicians to prescribe cannabis for a set of ten debilitating diseases and others they deem to be of similar seriousness, the bill still represents a huge step forward for a state and region with traditionally regressive marijuana criminalization. This is the second time the bill, known both times as Amendment 2, has come before the people. The first time, in 2014,
National News attorney named John Morgan. He’s the chairman of United for Care, the group behind Yes on 2. While they were unsuccessful in getting medical legalization in 2014, there was a CBD-only bill called the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act that was passed which does get patients access to cannabidiol (CBD). Though they can only get it as a “last resort” for epileptic seizures or cancer, and only from five dispensaries spread across the state. This bill would of course represent a major expansion of that access. Morgan’s been on the record, as quoted in a May piece for the Orlando Weekly, telling a group of Florida entrepreneurs, "there is no state in the union that is more ready for this industry than this state, this is the state that is the most ready for marijuana." Opponents of the measure say medical legalization will lead to a full-fledged recreational industry in their backyard with dispensaries popping up all over. But there also have been ads with dystopian visions of marijuana candy shops popping up near schools, which is a clear distortion of reality.
it had over 57% of the vote in favor, but still fell short of the required 60% threshold, known as a “supermajority” required by the state constitution. Meanwhile Florida remains a state where less than 20 grams of marijuana can land a person in jail for a year, and over 20 grams can get 5 years and a felony record. Since that narrow defeat, proponents of the bill have sought to shore up support by fixing the perceived flaws in the bill’s language. Central to that effort was the tightening of the language surrounding the word “debilitating.” Opponents of the 2014 version felt the bill invited abuse with vague wording and would see prescriptions for a variety of illnesses not widely deemed to be “debilitating.” The drive for medical legalization in Florida was set in motion by an Orlando
With Florida’s agricultural might and aging population, a bustling cannabis production industry should be just around the corner, even if recreational use isn’t. Voters seem to be firmly in favor of Morgan’s vision for the future of the state. A Florida Chamber of Commerce poll from late September showed 73% in favor of Amendment 2, which certainly bodes well for November 8th. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
New grower of cannabis? See our Cultivation section on Page 20!
federal fiscal year Saturday, to gas up helicopters and do flyovers.” Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone said he was unaware of the operations, and Mary Carey, a spokeswoman for the Northwestern District Attorney’s office, said the district attorney had no role in the confiscations. Though Margaret says she is not a “social activist,” she is prepared to stand up to what she evidently feels is an injustice on the part of the government. Her son says she has hired a criminal attorney and intends to grow another plant so she can harvest her medicine for next year. “Holcomb said she understands the risks of growing another marijuana plant. But at her age and with her medical problems, she says she may just decide to plant the seed,” the Gazette concluded.
Oregon Cannabis Connection
would care if you were possessing enough to sell when there’s no market to sell to? Or if tax-related diversion occurs, like the tobacco example, then there’s an incentive for states to equalize their tax rates.No matter what we write into regulations to govern medical and recreational marijuana in our states, those regulations are going to change drastically as we evolve from separate states with limited tolerance of cannabis to an entire nation that embraces its hemp heritage. "Radical" Russ BelvilleHost of The Russ Belville Show at http://RadicalRuss.comLIVE Weekdays at 3pm Pacific on http://CannabisRadio.com © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved.
As Margaret said: “I’m prepared to take actions if I need to. I don’t picture them out here and putting an 81-year-old woman in jail.” Republished under Creative Commons license . All rights reserved.
Sisters Image: Keith Mansur, OCC Newspaper from Roganja Farms
Oct/Nov 2016
National News Nugs ‘Extraordinary Cache’ Of Marijuana Discovered In Ancient Chinese Burial Site By Johnny Green, WeedNews.co
Marijuana has been used for thousands of years. Proof of that was recently discovered in China, where an ancient burial was unearthed, and in it was a skeleton and marijuana plants. The burial site was located at the Jiayi cemetery in Turpan. Turpan’s desert oasis was an important stop on the Silk Road at the time. It was not the first discovery of marijuana in the area, but this discovery was special because the marijuana plants appeared to have special meaning.
National News New Hampshire Legislator Sold Weed In Statehouse By Keith Mansur, Oregon Cannabis Connection
The AP News reported that a former New Hampshire state lawmaker that was arrested for trying to lure a young girl into a sexual encounter apparently also smoked the herb in the Statehouse and sold the drug to several other legislators while there. There was not enough evidence to charge him at the time, according to the article.
Thirteen cannabis plants, each up to almost three feet long, were placed diagonally across the man’s chest, with the roots oriented beneath his pelvis and the tops of the plants extending from just under his chin, up and alongside the left side of his face.
Image: NAt. Geographic vis Shanghaiist
Carbon dating of the site puts the age of the burial site between 2,400 to 2,800 years old. Dried marijuana and marijuana seeds had been found in the area previously on other projects, but this is the first time that marijuana plants were found, and in a fashion that indicates that the marijuana plants were used as a type of shroud. It’s worth noting that no hemp textiles were found at any of the sites that archaeologists have discovered marijuana at. This discovery, along with others in the area, strongly suggest that marijuana was used for consumption purposes, both for medical and recreational purposes. One of the discoveries of marijuana in the area involved a woman that appeared to have died from breast cancer. The burial site that the woman was found at had strong indications that the woman was using marijuana to help treat her condition. © 2016 WeedNews.co. Reprinted by special permission.
In an official statement posted on the CMPD’s Facebook page and during a press conference last Saturday afternoon announcing that the department was releasing some police body- and dashcam videos of the fatal encounter, Charlotte police laid out a timeline of what occurred: Two plain clothes officers were sitting inside of their unmarked police vehicle preparing to serve an arrest warrant in the parking lot of The Village at College Downs, when a white SUV pulled in and parked beside of them.
Per National Geographic: Archaeologists are hailing the discovery of an “extraordinary cache” of cannabis found in an ancient burial in northwest China, saying that the unique find adds considerably to our understanding of how ancient Eurasian cultures used the plant for ritual and medicinal purposes. In a report in the journal Economic Botany, archaeologist Hongen Jiang and his colleagues describe the burial of an approximately 35-year-old adult man with Caucasian features in China’s Turpan Basin. The man had been laid out on a wooden bed with a reed pillow beneath his head.
That makes Scott the 38th person to die in domestic drug law enforcement operations so far this year.
The officers observed the driver, later identified as Mr. Keith Lamont Scott, rolling what they believed to be a marijuana “blunt.” Officers did not consider Mr. Scott’s drug activity to be a priority at the time and they resumed the warrant operation. A short time later, Officer Vinson observed Mr. Scott hold a gun up. State Representative Kyle Tasker, a 30year-old Republican, resigned in March after being charged with the sexual offense and three other unrelated charges. The New Hampshire Attorney Generals review of his activities brought investigators to four other representatives that were also involved with cannabis consumption and purchases at the capitol.
Because of that, the officers had probable cause to arrest him for the drug violation and to further investigate Mr. Scott being in possession of the gun.
One representative, Democrat Amanda Bouldin, denied every purchasing cannabis, but did admit to smoking with him and being present when me smoked it in the Statehouse. Another made multiple purchases from him for “ chronic pain and other conditions”. He has since received a medical marijuana card.
And Keith Scott ended up dead. According to his family, he was in his vehicle waiting for his son to get off the school bus. But because he was rolling a joint while waiting, and because police just happened to be engaged in an operation nearby, he caught the attention of the cops. Even when police said they saw him hold up a gun, they used the joint-rolling as probable cause to investigate the presence of the gun. If not for marijuana prohibition, the whole unraveling of events, with dire consequences for Keith Scott, and lamentable ones for the city of Charlotte, most likely would never have occurred.
AP news reported: “Lachance was the only one who made multiple drug purchases from Tasker, the report said. He told authorities he needed marijuana to help with chronic pain and other conditions and has since obtained a medical marijuana card. He called Tasker the "Club Med of weed," in reference to the variety of high-end and high-priced strains of the drug he offered.” All his improprieties came to an end when Tasker tried to lure a 14-year-old into a sexual encounter and also offered to get her marijuana and alcohol. When he went to meet the girl, he was met by police. They had arranged a sting with cooperation from the girl and her mother. The police uncovered a host of other drugs at Taskers residence, including hallucinogenic mushrooms, ecstasy, hash oil, and Suboxone.
Due to the combination of illegal drugs and the gun Mr. Scott had in his possession, officers decided to take enforcement action for public safety concerns….
© 2016 StopTheDrugWar.org. Republished under creative commons license.
Certain Minors Allowed Under Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program From MPP
On October 1st a new law that improves Connecticut’s medical marijuana program
Charlotte Killing That Sparked Civic Unrest Began With Marijuana
cannabis in the Constitution state. Previously, Connecticut had been the only medical marijuana state to completely exclude seriously ill minors from its program. To participate in the Connecticut medical marijuana program, minors must have been diagnosed with terminal illness, an irreversible spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, or severe or intractable epilepsy. In addition, they must have a written certification from two doctors — a primary care provider and a specialist. Finally, a parent or guardian must submit a written statement consenting to the patient using medical cannabis and agreeing to serve as the minor’s primary caregiver. The new law extends legal protections to nurses who administer medical marijuana to patients in hospitals, and it also creates a research program. The department is now accepting research applications from hospitals, universities, dispensaries, and growers. Research subjects and employees of approved applicants will also have to register with the department. © 2016 Marijuana Policy Project. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.
Study: Opioid Prevalence Falls Following Medical Cannabis Legalization by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
The implementation of medical marijuana programs is associated with a decrease in the prevalence of opioids detected among fatally injured drivers, according to data published in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers at Columbia University in New York and the University of California at Davis performed a between-state comparison of opioid positivity rates in fatal car accidents in 18 states. Authors reported that drivers between the ages of 21 and 40 who resided in states that permitted medical marijuana use were approximat ely half as likely to test positive for opioids as were similar drivers in jurisdictions that did not such programs in place. They concluded, “Operational MMLs (medical marijuana laws) are associated with reductions in opioid positivity among 21- to 40-year-old fatally injured drivers and may reduce opioid use and overdose.” Prior comparisons have determined that medical cannabis access is associated with lower rates of opioid use, abuse, and mortality. Most recently, a 2016 study published in the journal Health Affairs reported a significant decrease in the use of prescription medications following the implementation of medical marijuana programs. An abstract of the study, “State medical marijuana laws and the prevalence of opioids detected among fatally injured drivers,” appears online at http://ajph.aphapublications.org
By Phillip Smith, StopTheDrugWar.org
The chain of events that led to the death of Keith Lamont Scott at the hands of Charlotte Metropolitan Police Department (CMPD) officers and days of civic unrest in North Carolina’s largest city began with a joint, Charlotte police said Saturday.
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went into effect. Among other changes, for the first time, certain patients who are under 18 now qualify to use medical
©2016 NORML Foundation. All rights reserved. Reprinted by special permission.
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Industrial Hemp
was planted with 17 pounds of hemp seed with an expected yield of 1500 pounds of seed. At $4 a pound wholesale, that’s a $6,000 per acre.
that the USDA has taken the necessary steps to provide clarification in their guidance for hemp research pilot programs, like that at Oregon State University. We are now one step closer to seizing on this massive agricultural opportunity for our state and the country.”
After years of maneuvering and legal wrangling, American farmers are now able to grow industrial hemp once again. But other barriers still exist, and clarification was needed. Once again, Oregon's amazing Congressional delegation, except Greg Walden (R), stepped up and went to bat for all hemp farmers in the country. This press release from Congressman Kurt Schrader details the group's accomplishments, while also pointing out a few inconsistencies that remain. As with medical marijuana, the laws are troublesome and do not allow proper commerce, research, cultivation, or treatment as any other agricultural plant.
“Ensuring funding is available to our states and universities will help Oregon put more hemp plants in the ground and propel industrial hemp research off the ground,” Wyden said. “I will continue working with my colleagues to get answers to the questions that remain so pilot projects like Oregon’s get the resources they need to ultimately seize on this burgeoning industry that provides a trifecta of benefits for farmers, the environment and the American economy.” “It’s absurd to import hemp from abroad when we could be creating jobs here in America instead,” Merkley said. “Research is a critical component of getting industrial hemp farming back off the ground here in the United States, and this guidance is a key step to help boost Oregon’s efforts in this area.”
With industrial hemp's differential from marijuana being an arbitrary legal “Investment in and definition of .03% THC support for the industrial content or less, they have hemp pilot program is recently been able to begin what will make Oregon an . Image: Jerry production under these agricultural, economic, Norton, American Hemp Seed Genetics definitions due to the and academic leader in development of cultivars that this field,” DeFazio said. “USDA’s guidance meet these strict requirements. on the industrial hemp pilot program is a tremendous step forward, and I will Agriculture Department Clarifies continue to work to ensure Oregon’s Hemp Growing Guidance for U.S. agriculture and research community have Farmers the tools they need to capitalize on this emerging opportunity.” By Congressman Kurt Schrader (D) 5th District Oregon “Hemp is an important agricultural commodity that dates back to the early Washington, D.C. – After Oregon Senators years of our nation. This clarification is Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and welcome news for hemp farmers and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Kurt producers in Oregon, and in the 28 other Schrader, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne states across the country that have removed Bonamici raised concerns about funding for barriers to industrial hemp production,” industrial hemp pilot projects last year, the Blumenauer said. “For far too long, hemp U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken a has been caught in the middle of the failed key step by clarifying which industrial War on Drugs. It’s past time that the federal hemp research programs are eligible for government treat hemp as a crop, rather existing federal funding. than an illicit drug.” The guidance from the USDA provides a response to a bicameral letter the legislators sent last year for funding for industrial hemp research pilot projects. Specifically, it clarifies that industrial hemp would be eligible for National Institute of Food Agriculture (NIFA) funding, though research must take place in one of twentyeight states with certified pilot industrial hemp programs. Eligible applicants are institutes of higher education and state departments of agriculture.
“For centuries, people have been using hemp to make paper, beauty products, food, and more," Bonamici said. "It's time for the federal government to recognize and support the benefits that come from industrial hemp. This clarification will increase access to funding for industrial hemp researchers in our state to boost our local markets and support innovation. I will continue to work with my colleagues to protect states—like Oregon—that have passed laws to support industrial hemp.”
While the USDA clarification that these programs are eligible for federal research dollars is a welcomed announcement, the guidance comes as part of a broader joint statement of principles issued in August by the USDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the implementation of states’ hemp pilot programs established under the 2014 Farm Bill. That statement raised further questions about other industrial hemp policies, which are inconsistent and conflict with federal law specifically regarding transportation, the definition of industrial hemp and the sale of hemp.
Last year, the lawmakers urged the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon State University (OSU) to implement an industrial hemp pilot project in time for the 2016 growing season and requested a timeline for doing so. OSU has since gotten the necessary state and federal permissions to conduct industrial hemp research trials, but the complexity of current laws regarding hemp has delayed the university’s process for getting hemp seedlings for research.
“Oregon farmers, and farmers across the country, have an opportunity to compete in the growing global hemp market. However, we need to clear the bureaucratic hurdles, and eliminate the unnecessary confusion and red tape that currently exists for our farmers and research institutions,” Schrader said. “I’m pleased
Wyden and Merkley introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act last year to lift the federal ban on domestic farming of industrial hemp. The bill would remove hemp from the Schedule I controlled substance list under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and would define it as a non-drug so long as it contained less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The Senate bill now has 15 cosponsors. Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio Cont. on Page 22
Oregon Cannabis Connection
Oregon has come a long way since Senator Floyd Prozanski’s SB676 was passed in 2009, allowing for the growing and production of industrial hemp in this state. However, it wasn’t until 2015 when Oregon actually started issuing permits. Our first year growing hemp in Oregon consisted of 13 permits; 9 of those permit holders actually planted. In 2016, 77 permits were issued, with an estimated 1,200 acres being grown here. Hemp. Legal. In Oregon! Industrial hemp farms are found throughout Oregon, and more are taking interest in growing this “new” crop. Many of these farmers are growing plants that are bred to have low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels and high levels of cannabidiol (CBD). For cannabis to be classified as
I don’t see this state, or even this country, processing hemp for textiles anytime soon, consideringthe fierce competition there would be with China. It would be extremely hard to invest the millions needed for the factories while keeping the price of a garment affordable. I do see a future in Oregon for animal bedding and hurd (the soft inner core of hemp) for hempcrete. Hempcrete is a building material that consists of chopped hemp hurd mixed with a lime-based binder and water. This is the basic recipe with variations that can include cement. Hemp plastic is also something we can produce in Oregon. It’s currently not here, but Green Spring Technologies out of Fort Worth, Texas, is currently doing 3D printing and injection molding with domestically grown hemp. They offer hemp plastic pens and business card holders available at my company Oregon Hemp Works (www.OregonHempWorks.com).
. Image: Ben Christensen
“hemp,” it must contain 0.3% THC (or less). CBD is non-psychoactive cannabinoid used in many medical applications. It is even sometimes given to pets for health conditions or as a dietary supplement. When being grown for high CBD content, plants are planted farther apart and harvested by hand. The flowers are processed for their resin, which is then used in topicals, tinctures, and other products.
“I’m excited to be part of this new industry where we can create Oregon jobs and help people,” said Jerry Norton of American Hemp Seed Genetics and New Earth Bioscience. He was one of Oregon’s first permitted hemp farmers who grows both hemp for both CBD and industrial products. “I expect to see a price drop in CBD due to supply and demand. It’s the consumers who will really benefit from this.”
Industrial hemp in Oregon is also grown for seed products: the seed itself, oil from the seed, and protein—which is a byproduct of oil production. Industrial hemp plants are grown close together and harvested with combines. Farmers are having to invent ways to make this work for their application by adapting and experimenting with different equipment. The seed is taken from this harvested plant matter, cleaned of debris, and sent to a processor. Once processed, it is sold to companies or even put on the market directly from the processor. I expect to see a strong hemp food industry coming out of Oregon.
As someone with a company that produces soaps, lotions, massage oils, and even deodorant—all made of hemp—I am extremely excited about having oil produced here. I’ve been waiting six years to make our products out of Oregon-grown hemp.
While hemp has thousands of uses, not all of them can be taken advantage of with the current infrastructure. Cliff Thomason of OR Hemp Co, who is currently running for Oregon governor, is one of the farmers growing industrial hemp for seed. His field
What can you do to support this growing industry? Buy hemp products when you see them. This helps create the demand and, in turn, will fuel this industry. A booming hemp industry will help us all. Support hemp! Benhamin Christensen is the Owner of Oregon Hemp Works, Portland NORML's Hemp Ambassador, and the social media assistant for Hemp Industries Association. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection
Oct/Nov 2016
Medical News
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estimate that Medicare could have saved $468 million on prescription drugs if every state had a medical marijuana law in place. The sole exception was glaucoma, and this could be due to the fact that marijuana's effects on the condition tend to only last for about an hour. Prescriptions for medicines that marijuana is not used for, such as blood thinners, did not drop. Opponents of medical marijuana laws have often claimed that legalizing marijuana use would lead to rampant drug abuse and have an adverse effect on society. Now that these laws have been instituted in some states for a few years, however, evidence is mounting that the opposite is actually true. In fact, it turns out that medical marijuana is so effective at treating pain that it's
keeping many patients off prescription painkillers, which are a bigger threat to society than marijuana use, medical or otherwise, could ever be. In a recent study, researchers discovered that Medicare reported savings of $165.2 million in 2013 on the prescription medications that are used to treat some of the conditions that can also be treated with marijuana. These included depression, pain, seizures, nausea, glaucoma, anxiety, spasticity and sleep disorders. You may recall that 2013 was the year that 17 states put medical marijuana laws into place, along with the District of Columbia. These impressive savings accounted for half a percent of the Medicare Part D budget for that year. In the study, all of the claims for prescriptions filed for the medications in question from 2010 to 2013 by Medicare Part D patients were reviewed. Decreases were noted in the number of prescriptions that were written for medications other than marijuana for most of the conditions studied. For example, in states with legal medical marijuana, the prescriptions for pain medications were lower by a remarkable 1,826 daily doses compared to the states where medical marijuana is not legal. The researchers
Researcher Ashley Bradford of the University of Georgia, who was the study's lead author, said: "The results suggest people are really using marijuana as medicine and not just using it for recreational purposes."
Medical marijuana could alleviate the nation's opioid crisis This is good news for those suffering with these ailments, with marijuana proving to be a safer alternative to conventional medicine. Take the example of opioids, a type of painkiller that has been responsible for a slew of deadly overdoses. A University of Michigan study found that patients with chronic pain who used medical marijuana reported a drop in their use of prescription opioids amounting to 64 percent. They also reported experiencing fewer side effects, and a 45 percent improvement in their quality of life since turning to cannabis for pain management. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 people die each day from overdosing on these drugs.
Bad news for Big Pharma Anything that can steer people away from death-inducing prescription painkillers and other dangerous medications is a very positive step, no matter what your personal feelings are about marijuana. Of course, Big Pharma does not share this view, as it threatens their profits, which also explains why they are hoping people won't catch on to the benefits of CBD oil from hemp for issues such as epilepsy. Not only is marijuana very effective for many people, but it carries very few side effects, and is often more affordable than the pills Big Pharma is trying to push on people. This latest study showing that marijuana is replacing dangerous pharmaceuticals for many people might be bad news for Big Pharma, but it's good news for everybody else. © 2016 Naturalnews.com. Republished by permission.
Great Recipes Page 19!
A woman’s moderate use of cannabis during pregnancy is not an independent risk factor for adverse neonatal outcomes such as early birth or low birth weight. This according to a major new literature review published online by the journal, Obstetrics & Gynecology, ahead of its upcoming print edition. Washington University School of Medicine researchers in St. Louis reviewed outcomes from more than two-dozen relevant casecontrol studies published between 1982 and 2015. After considering all the known outside factors, cannabis use posed “no statistically significant increased risk” during pregnancy (2016). Authors reported that, “[M]aternal marijuana use during pregnancy is not an independent risk factor for low birth weight or preterm delivery after adjusting for factors such as tobacco use. There also does not appear to be an increased risk for other adverse neonatal outcomes such as SGA (small for gestational age) and placental abruption once we account for other influencing factors.” “[T]he results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that the increased risk for adverse neonatal outcomes reported in women using marijuana in pregnancy is likely the result of coexisting use of tobacco and other confounding factors and not attributable to marijuana use itself. “Although these data do not imply that marijuana use during pregnancy should be encouraged or condoned, the lack of a significant association with adverse neonatal outcomes suggests that attention should be focused on aiding pregnant women with cessation of substances known to have adverse effects on the pregnancy such as tobacco.” The September 2016 publication’s findings are similar to those of a 2010 US Centers for Disease Control-sponsored populationbased study that determined, “Reported cannabis use does not seem to be associated with low birth weight or preterm birth.” Paul Armentano is NORML Deputy Director, paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, “Maternal marijuana use and neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” appears in Obstetrics & Gynecology. © 2016 The Leaf Online. All rights reserved. Printed by special permission.
Study found male users reporting bigger benefits compared to women
Smoking a joint provides greater pain relief to men than to women, a new study indicates. Researchers asked 42 recreational marijuana smokers to place one hand in extremely cold water until they could no longer tolerate the pain. They did this twice: Once after smoking marijuana and once after puffing on a placebo. After smoking marijuana, men reported they were significantly less sensitive to pain. They were also more able tolerate pain. While women reported they were somewhat more able to tolerate pain after smoking marijuana, it brought them no significant pain relief. Despite the differences in pain relief, men and women had similar levels of intoxication after smoking marijuana. The findings come at a time when more people are turning to medical marijuana for pain relief. "This study underscores the importance of including both men and women in clinical trials aimed at understanding the potential therapeutic and negative effects of cannabis, particularly as more people use cannabinoid products for recreational or medical purposes," said study author Ziva Cooper. She is an associate professor of clinical neurobiology at Columbia University Medical Center, in New York City. More research is needed to understand the factors affecting marijuana's pain-relieving effects, including its strength and whether it is smoked or taken by mouth. The study, recently published online in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, was funded by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cooper has received funding from INSYS Therapeutics Inc and is a consultant to KannaLife Sciences and PharmaCann, LLC. Fellow study author Margaret Haney has received funding from INSYS Therapeutics Inc. and from Aelis Farma. The companies are commercial sellers of medical marijuana. © Healthday News. All rights reserved. Printed by permission.
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If you or someone you know suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, then you already know that it has the potential to alter someone’s life forever. This disease, which attacks the nervous system, begins with mild tremors and shaking, and gradually progresses to further loss of muscle control; including loss
Medical News
with the introduction of research positions, the Department of Consumer Protection said in a news release.
named after London Doctor James Parkinson who highlighted the disease in a medical essay he published in 1817. It wasn’t until almost 60 years after the detailed publication that French neurologist, Jean Martin Charcot, named the disease after Dr. Parkinson after being the first to recognize the importance of his work on the subject. Recently, the attention has shifted to what many deemed to be an unlikely source – marijuana (cannabis). As more research studies shed light on the medical benefits of marijuana, Parkinson’s Disease is at the forefront of conditions that this naturally grown herb is being proven to treat. The results of more modern-day studies are found to be extremely promising for Parkinson’s sufferers. Volunteering patients are finding that using marijuana helps to alleviate the devastating symptoms associated with the disease, such as reduction in tremors, quicker movements in general, less bodily shaking and other involuntary movements, and more fluid muscle motion. Patients have also reported less pain and fatigue in general as well as better sleeping patterns. Even more reassuring is that to get these benefits, users don’t have to become ‘high’ or smoke cannabis if they don’t want to, as it also works as concentrated oil.
of certain involuntary movements (such as blinking), and changes to your speech. In its later stages, this debilitating disease can also lead to more severe complications such as emotional or cognitive difficulties, sleep disorders, and chronic fatigue and pain. Parkinson’s affects over one million Americans, with over 50,000 being diagnosed every year. It can attack people of any age, however, the majority of sufferers are over the age of 50, and men are more likely to be affected than women. Even though Parkinson’s itself does not directly kill, the lack of muscle control, combined with other symptoms, can lead to accidents that can cause injury or death.
The current thinking is that marijuana works by creating a barrier of protection around certain types of cells in the brain. This neuroprotective barrier helps to keep brain cells healthy for a longer period of time. This means that marijuana, while not being able to cure or reverse the disease, seems to be able to slow down its progression and treat its symptoms. As medical researchers continue to study the potential of cannabis for the treatment of Parkinson’s moving forward, it is hoped that their findings can lead to more intricate and specified treatment options and possibly discover ways to prevent, or even cure, this dreadful condition.
Due to the severe nature of this disease, medical researchers have been trying to find treatment options since well before it was
© 2016 medwellhealth.net. printed by permission
Oregon Cannabis Connection
Research proposals will have to meet a number of specific criteria outlined by the state.
Calling cannabis researchers: Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program will begin accepting applications for research proposals on medical uses of marijuana starting Oct. 1, a move that ultimately could make it easier for doctors to recommend MMJ and boost sales. Eligible applicants include licensed medical marijuana producers and dispensaries, as well as hospitals, health-care facilities, and universities, according to HartfordBusiness.com. Hoping to strengthen Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program and create high-tech employment opportunities in the state, Connecticut’s legislature decided to allow medical marijuana research. There are currently 259 people employed in Connecticut’s medical marijuana industry. That number “could increase significantly”
Matthew Katz, executive vice president and CEO of the Connecticut State Medical Society, has been advocating for several years for increased research into medical marijuana. He said the state was taking “a step in the right direction to allow for an increased amount of research in the area of the effectiveness as well as the other aspects of medical marijuana … the side effects and more that really needs to be studied.” In an interview Monday Harris said Connecticut would be the first state to have “an organized, focused research program.” The federal government classifies marijuana as a schedule one drug, making it difficult to conduct research. Connecticut has reclassified marijuana as a schedule two drug. There are 13,434 patients registered under the state’s four-year-old medical marijuana program. The state has eight marijuana dispensaries and four growers. Connecticut’s Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Jonathan A. Harris, suggested that a medical marijuana research sector could help make the state “the focal point for medical cannabis research and add to the strong bio-tech base already here,” Hartford Business reported. The Department of Consumer Protection, which oversees the state’s medical marijuana program, is overseeing the research application process. Deputy Commissioner Michelle Seagull said rigorous scientific studies would also boost the medical community’s ability to assess the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana as a therapy.
Business Classifieds on Page 23!
Oct/Nov 2016
Food & Recipes Quinoa Corn Canna-Muffins Bake n' Sprouts
By The Mandersons
By Carmen autostraddle.com
By Keith Mansur
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WARNING: Medical cannabis consumption can be unpredictable. Always start with a quarter serving and give it time. Effects can take up to an hour and sometimes longer. If you have doubts, you should contact a cannabis clinician about dosage.
Chocolate Chip Almond Shortbread By R.A.
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Cultivation ruined by slacking off at the end. Placing green marijuana into storage without preparation almost guarantees that it will begin to mildew, then become moldy.
The best way to ensure year- round satisfaction is to make sure you’ve protected your cannabis crop. The techniques for storage are simple but vital for combating mold, mildew, and general spoilage. If a grower’s crop is anywhere near successful, the harvest will be too large to stash in a cupboard or dresser drawer, and you’ll be stuck with the happy task of preparing at least a year’s supply of smoke for long-term storage. Besides the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the cannabis you’re putting into your body hasn’t been sprayed with insecticide or herbicide, the reason for growing personal—use marijuana is to ensure yourself of a good supply of the kind bud until next harvest. That means putting a year’s worth of cannabis into storage, where seeds will not be damaged by freezing, buds will neither mold or grow stale (a number of experts claim that stored marijuana will actually increase in
Drying the crop
potency for the first several months—I can’t say that I’ve ever noted an increase in the stoning, but aged weed does seem to be a smoother smoke). Learning how to prepared dry, and store your crop is a skill set that just keeps on paying for itself. You’ll be glad you took the time to learn now, when you relish your ability to pull weed out from storage yearround. It’s equally important to remember that a year’s worth of work can easily be
Drying is the most common method of preparing fresh marijuana plants for storage. But within that seemingly simple stage of the growing operation there exists a multitude of different methods and opinions about how it should be accomplished.
Oregon Cannabis Connection roof between trees, over a taut “clothesline” hung with drying plants. Curing time is very dependent on humidity and ambient temperature, but figure on leaving plants—especially females with large, dense buds that have more moisture content—to hang for at least a week in dry 70-degree weather. Most growers concur that thoroughly desiccated marijuana foliage is not the best smoke; for maximum smoothness and minimum harshness, your bud or leaves need to contain a percentage of moisture that allows them to burn less hotly with more smoke. Leaves that are at prime dryness will have turned dark green, but not yet brown, with slight dry crunching at the edges, but a tough and fibrous consistency throughout the leaf. Buds will feel dry and slightly crunchy on the outside, but sticky (the stickier the better) when squeezed between thumb and forefinger.
Hanging the buds Air-drying the leaves Traditional methods of drying plants—the way it’s done by large-volume commercial growers—is to simply pull up mature plants by their roots and then hang them upside down in a dry place until nearly all moisture has evaporated from their tissues. Plants are not hung upside down to allow THC to “run” from the roots into the foliage. In fact, the primary reason plants are hung upside down is for convenience; it’s just easier to hang them in that orientation—the same reason that tobacco leaves are still hung by their roots for drying. A cord lashed around the stalk, below the last branch, is held securely in place when tied, unable to slide past the plant’s large root ball.
Another important reason for hanging freshly pulled marijuana plants is to permit them to expire more slowly. This practice is conducted for the same reason that it is used to “cure” tobacco leaves whose smoke would be disagreeably harsh and unpleasant tasting if they were quickdried artificially using heat. Being uprooted and dying sends a plant into high-gear survival mode, one result of which is a high level of simple plant sugars in the tissues, and a less-bitter chlorophyll. And like tobacco, those phenomena of the curing process have the effect of making the marijuana you process for smoking into a product that is palatable, pleasing to the nose, and as gentle on the lungs as it is hard-hitting to the brain. In fact, some growers maintain that proper curing is necessary for coaxing maximum THC levels from a harvested plant. Ideally, plants hung to cure should be under a roof to block out harsh sunlight that might dry plants too quickly and unevenly. It’s also important that falling rain be blocked from literally washing away THC from the outsides of curing bud, and of course to keep drying time to a minimum. Open air tobacco-curing sheds—essentially just a roof supported by posts—are probably best, but not always feasible; backwoods growers often accomplish the same purpose by stringing a green tarpaulin in the form of a peaked
Air-drying is the best method of drying leaves or whole harvested plants because it retains the most of a plant’s pleasantly
fragrant scent and spicy taste. In the case of midsummer leaves trimmed from plants during normal pruning, the best way to air dry them is to bag the loosely wadded foliage—“fluffed” to maximize the airspace between leaves—in an airy sack. Two unsophisticated favorites are a plain brown paper bag and a net-type fruit sack. A paper bag, its top folded over several times to seal it, steadily and evenly absorbs moisture from inside, then dissipates it to the outside; shaking the bag from time to time to redistribute its contents helps them to dry more rapidly. A mesh onion sack containing loosely crumpled leaves is a favorite among pot growers who dry small amounts for personal use, because the netting provides for maximum air circulation and the shortest drying time. When drying marijuana for smoking using any of the methods covered here, it isn’t necessary or desirable to dry it to the point of being crunchy. Foliage that is just moist enough to be flexible, but dry enough to burn evenly with a smooth, sweet smoke when chopped fine with scissors produces a superior smoke with leaves or bud. Airdrying is the only safe way to dry buds from which you intend to gather seeds for another crop. © 2016 Ilovegrowingmarijuana.com. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Oct/Nov 2016
Cultivation
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Fall Garden Care: The Key to LowInput Cannabis Gardens
Fall is a crucial time of year for the following season’s fertility. It is wise to take the time and energy post-harvest to cover the ground with a thick layer of carbonaceous material in order to create a food bank for the soil during the winter. Along with mulching, you can also add winter cover crop seeds to the garden space as a means to recover nutrients when the rain begins to saturate and leach soils in the winter. The more roots in the ground and mulch insulating the Earth’s surface, the more fertility is built up and stored for next season’s crops.
The Pest: Caterpillars First signs: Large holes in fan leaves. Little chunks of caterpillar poop on the foliage. Buds may show signs of bud rot.
Images: Green Source Gardens
more organic raw materials that cover the earth the more potential fertility and production is created.
Heavy mulching in the fall is a lesson taught by nature. If we pay attention to a healthy forest and how it builds fertility, we can begin to mimic that in our production gardens. In southern Oregon, fall is a time when soils wake up from a long dry season, and as soil life re-emerges from its dormant period it needs something to eat. This is where mulch fits in: Mulch feeds bacteria, fungi and other decomposers found in healthy soil, thus allowing populations to grow and decomposition to increase. Fertility is dependent on biological breakdown, so the
A cover crop, which can be sown with and around the mulch, is there to catch the excess nutrients that begin to leach as the soil becomes saturated. Living roots in the soil during the wet season helps store the nutrient in plant form, which is then decomposed and used by next season’s crops. They also contribute to a healthy microbial environment by growing in the topsoil. Roots feed microbes, as well as add organic matter to the soil. Remember, diversity in all forms creates health and resiliency, so don’t forget to use diverse seed mixes and mulches. We recommend cereal grains like oats and barley in combination with legumes like vetch and cowpeas. The combination of mulch and a cover crop is a winner for big plants the following season. Fertility managed this way requires no other inputs and is one of the main secrets to low overhead production. Stop spending so much money on amendments and start nurturing the soil in a natural way that follows nature’s voice. © 2016 Oregon Cannabis Connection. All rights reserved. Images: Green Source Gardens
They start out harmless enough: pretty butterflies and moths fluttering around your plants. Unfortunately, these little beauties are leaving ticking time bombs everywhere they land. The moth and butterfly eggs that are left behind will turn into plant-munching caterpillars when the conditions are just right. Caterpillars are very common pests in Oregon, and they love to eat cannabis. Caterpillars are larvae of insects from the Lepidoptera family. There are many species around the world, with many different colors and patterns. They have segmented bodies with six main legs and 10 false legs. Caterpillars have an unusual respiratory system. Instead of breathing through their mouths, they take in air through holes on their body called spiracles. They have poor eyesight, relying mostly on their antennae to find food. Butterflies will fly around and lay their eggs directly on the plant—often on the biggest, tallest, tastiest buds. When the temperatures are perfect the eggs will hatch. With many species, this happens at the end of summer when we have spikes of hot weather, but it can happen any time throughout the season. The young caterpillars that hatch are very
. Image: GrowWeedEasy.com
hungry. They will voraciously feed on leaves, stems, and buds. The worst offenders will burrow into the nicest bud on your plant and start to eat from the inside. As the young caterpillars eat, they leave behind lots of poop. This is a very common cause of bud rot, and the only thing to do is throw away the rotten part of the bud. They will eat and grow nearly nonstop until they have enough body reserves to metamorphize into another butterfly or moth. By this point, depending on the species, the leaves can be severely chewed and/or thebuds can be completely unusable and worthless. Control: The solution is to regularly inspect plants for all types of insects, including caterpillars. Eggs will be round or oval and can vary in color and size. They sometimes will be laid in groups or clusters. Look for obvious signs of damage: large holes in leaves and caterpillar poop (frass) scattered around. Caterpillars in buds will be harder to spot. Look for small holes where they entered the bud. If you suspect a caterpillar, carefully dig around the bud to be sure there is no internal damage or poop that can lead to bud rot. Some caterpillars are active at dusk, so a good practice is to regularly inspect plants in the evening with a flashlight a few times a week. Some growers have found caterpillars leaving the buds at postharvest drying. They do not like dried plant matter, and will sometimes drop down on threads as the buds are drying. Physically remove them and dispose however you see fit. Many general feeding predators like green lacewings, pirate bugs, and ladybugs have been known to eat caterpillar eggs. They are great to introduce for control of many
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pests, including caterpillars, but by far the most effective predators for caterpillars are trichogramma wasps (caterpillar parasites). Trichogramma "wasps" kill over 200 kinds of destructive caterpillars, making them one of the most popular biocontrols in the world. Although they're called wasps, they never sting, and they're so tiny (1/50" from wingtip to wingtip) you'll probably never even notice them. They work by laying their eggs inside moth eggs that would have become caterpillars, killing them before they can even hatch. In its place, another trichogramma wasp hatches out instead, repeating the cycle. Their development typically takes 8–10 days (from egg to adult), and they live another 8–10 days as adults. During this period, each trichogramma female may parasitize (kill) as many as 100 pest eggs. Caterpillar parasites are available commercially as eggs attached to cards which are hung from the foliage of plants. Each card contains 3000 parasite eggs. Application rates vary, but for large cannabis plants I would recommend one card of 3000 eggs for every two to three plants. Repeat releases several times a month throughout the growing season. Caterpillars can be serious pests, but with regular releases of beneficial insects and routine plant inspections they can be taken care before they become a problem. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the medicine! Nathan Jackson is the owner of Nature’s Control and Ladybug Indoor Gardens. Located in The Shoppes at Exit 24, Phoenix, Oregon. Nature’s Control has supplied growers with beneficial insects for over 35 years. He can be reached at (541) 245-6033 or nathan@naturescontrol.com
Cultivation have done is remarkable and they will provide a great service to the people of Oregon by ensuring public health is protected.” While testing capacity for pesticides is being structured to match the recreational market, all other required testing for microbials that can affect human health remain intact and are required for both medical and recreational marijuana. The OLCC believes sufficient laboratory testing capacity exists to achieve the agencies’ objective of fully testing for contaminates other than pesticides. The OLCC has worked closely with OHA throughout the process of implementing new Oregon Marijuana laws and the OLCC is committed to bring all required testing standards to recreational marijuana. “ We will be working with labs and closely monitoring the capacity for pesticide testing, ” said Steve Marks, executive director of the OLCC. “ As soon as we can we will quickly move to testing every 10 pound batch of recreational marijuana moving through the system. ” The OHA and OLCC have decided they will not change the packaging and labeling standards for new product entering each system after Oct. 1, 2016. The agencies believe that holding to the Oct. 1, 2016 deadline will not adversely affect the market. If licensees do not have pre-approved packaging and labels, they may use generic packaging and labeling until their packages and labels are approved by the OLCC. The OLCC is currently caught up on requests for packaging and labeling approvals. State agencies have created flexibility for products that currently exist in medical dispensaries prior to Oct. 1, 2016 by not requiring those products to be in pre-approved packages . However, they must meet current packaging and labeling standards, including the child safety requirements. Both the OHA and OLCC recognize that in some cases product packaging and labeling will not be in compliance and both agencies will take an educational approach to regulatory compliance. The OLCC established an approval process for packages and labels months ago, and combined this with a vigorous outreach to the industry; despite those efforts, industry engagement as measured by submissions of packages and labels for approval was limited, until recently.
“Our actions today are a wake-up call to get this work done and we expect many more packages and labels will be approved over the next two weeks,” said Marks. “The OLCC and OHA don’t expect to issue packaging and labeling fines for violations in the near term as it works to get licensees compliant through educational activity. This latitude will be limited and the OLCC and OHA will communicate with its licensees when it shifts to full enforcement of the standards.” The OLCC also passed a temporary rule that clarifies the restrictions on product wording commonly associated with products marketed by or to children. The Commission’s prior rules allowed it to regulate marijuana strain names attractive to minors, but not those marketed by minors such as "girl scout cookies". This action directs staff at OLCC to fairly implement criteria to restrict a narrow set of strain names that refer to cartoon characters, or names associated with toys and games marketed to children. Examples would include the marijuana strains like “Candy Land” a well-known children’s board game; "Smurfette" a cartoon character; and "Skywalker" and "Jedi Kush" that are a direct reference to the popular Star Wars franchise. The Commissioners and OLCC staff have reviewed a listing of about 500 marijuana strain names and believe the rule would clearly apply to less than 20 strains. While it is clear that OLCC will deny the inclusion of these names on pre-approved packages and labels, it will work with the industry to correct package and label compliance issues for products in the stream of commerce. Commission staff and Commissioners will have roles in determining products that appeal to children and that are marketed by or to them. In the coming week, the OLCC will work to provide the industry policy guidance and lists of suspect names that will be regulated. Within the list of strain names are a host of products that appear to use trademarked terms that are owned by other companies. The OLCC will work on these issues as it finalizes its overall permanent rules later this year. The OLCC is continuing to work with the industry and Joint Committee to ensure the smooth implementation of the recreational marijuana program. “ We knew the transition to a regulated marijuana market would be challenging, and the Commission, and the OHA, have again adapted to those concerns, ” said Rob Patridge, chair of the OLCC. “We owe it to the industry and all Oregonians to make sure the integrity and safeguards of this
Oregon Cannabis Connection system are intact and to keep faith with the will of the voters when they approved Measure 91. We are working hard to balance market needs with public health and safety to provide a reasonable transition for this industry to move into compliance .” All of these rules are being adopted as the state experiences a new major milestone in developing its legal recreational marijuana market. This week, the OLCC made final approvals on 25 recreational licensed retailers located throughout the state, and additional retailers are poised to be licensed in the coming weeks. The 25 retailer licenses will go into effect when licensees pay their fees to OLCC and relinquish their medical dispensary license to OHA. Some of these OLCC licensees plan to start operating on Oct. 1, 2016. Mark Pettinger, SpokespersonMark.pettinger@oregon.gov (503) 872-5115www.marijuana.oregon.gov
and Schrader are all co-sponsors of the House version of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. On November 20, 2015, 12 Senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter requesting the USDA provide information on how the agency interprets its authority to award existing and competitive federal funds for the research of industrial hemp. The letter also requested information regarding how the USDA helps interested parties in the competitive grant process. Industrial hemp is used throughout the world in thousands of products, including paper, fabrics, lotions, canvas, rope, and construction material. Currently, American farmers are banned from growing hemp in the United States under federal law. But the 2014 Farm Bill allowed institutions of higher education and state departments of agriculture to launch industrial hemp research pilot programs if they meet certain conditions. Twenty-eight states, including Oregon, have authorized industrial hemp pilot studies or production. Press release from Congressman Kurt Schrader, 5th District of Oregon.
Oct/Nov 2016
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Page 23 VICTORIA'S STATION THE STATION Pipes, accessories, adult novelties 1 20 Galice Rd. Merlin, OR 97532 (541 ) 471 -1 396
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