Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Marijuana votes in Oregon offered some surprises, including an embrace of recreational marijuana sales in some conservative enclaves — but the biggest trend by far was for communities to cash in on the lucrative cop.
Places like Albany, Oregon City, Manzanita and Scappoose were among the cities voting against bans on recreational or medical pot, opening the doors to the state's legal marijuana industry in their hometowns.
East of the Cascades, where dozens of communities already have imposed bans, voters in Gilliam County, Madras and North Powder rejected similar efforts. Jefferson County voters said yes to bans on recreational marijuana production, processing, wholesalers and sales, but voted to allow medical marijuana processing and dispensaries.
Meanwhile, the marijuana legalization movement made major gains Tuesday with voters approving recreational cannabis in Massachusetts, California and Nevada. Legalization in Maine had a narrow lead in incomplete returns Wednesday. Arizona voters, however, rejected legalization.
Leland Berger, a Portland lawyer who represents marijuana businesses, called the victories a "bitter win." He said the election of Donald Trump as president raises questions about the future of recreational marijuana.
"There is a concern about what's going to happen," he said.
During a 2015 campaign stop in Nevada, Trump called marijuana "a state issue."
Marijuana policy reform advocates point out that names circulated for top law enforcement posts include opponents of legalization, such as Chris Christie and Rudy Guiliani.
Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national marijuana policy reform group, said he's apprehensive about the implications of a Trump presidency on marijuana policy.
"The reason I am so concerned is because of the people around him," he said.
In Oregon, most of the 60 communities that considered marijuana bans approved them - results that underscore the deep resistance legal marijuana continues to face in parts of the state. Marion County, for instance, voted to keep out the industry, dealing a blow to Golden Leaf Holdings, a company that produces, processes and sells marijuana.
The company already spent more than $3 million on property for a production and processing operation. Beau Whitney, an executive with the Golden Leaf, said the company is disappointed with the results and researching its options.
He said communities that reject the marijuana industry are turning away potential tax revenue and jobs.
They've had time to see that the legal industry hasn't led to a crime wave or other dire predictions, he said.
"They have seen that there is very, very little, if any, impact to communities," he said.
Berger said he was disappointed more voters didn't push back on bans. He was especially upset about the results in Douglas County, a prime growing region, which rejected legal cannabis.
"It's just foolish and bigoted," he said. John Sajo, a longtime marijuana activist in Oregon, has lived in Douglas County for nearly 30 years and hoped to open a licensed marijuana business there but is now searching for another location.
A "vigorous campaign" in the county to defeat the ban didn't do much to sway opposition, he said.
"It seems like people haven't really changed their minds at all since the vote two years ago," he said. Meanwhile, recreational marijuana is about to get a bit more expensive in stores licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
Local sales taxes on cannabis passed in more than 100 communities, including Portland, where officials conservatively estimated it will generate $3 million to $5 million a year. Local governments can add a sales tax of up to 3 percent on recreational sales. That's on top of the 17 percent state tax.
"It's clear from the results that Oregon doesn't like sales taxes unless it's on marijuana," said Sajo.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Albany, Oregon City Among Cities That Rejected Pot Bans
Author: Noelle Crombie
Contact: OregonLive
Photo Credit: Andrew Selsky
Website: OregonLive
Places like Albany, Oregon City, Manzanita and Scappoose were among the cities voting against bans on recreational or medical pot, opening the doors to the state's legal marijuana industry in their hometowns.
East of the Cascades, where dozens of communities already have imposed bans, voters in Gilliam County, Madras and North Powder rejected similar efforts. Jefferson County voters said yes to bans on recreational marijuana production, processing, wholesalers and sales, but voted to allow medical marijuana processing and dispensaries.
Meanwhile, the marijuana legalization movement made major gains Tuesday with voters approving recreational cannabis in Massachusetts, California and Nevada. Legalization in Maine had a narrow lead in incomplete returns Wednesday. Arizona voters, however, rejected legalization.
Leland Berger, a Portland lawyer who represents marijuana businesses, called the victories a "bitter win." He said the election of Donald Trump as president raises questions about the future of recreational marijuana.
"There is a concern about what's going to happen," he said.
During a 2015 campaign stop in Nevada, Trump called marijuana "a state issue."
Marijuana policy reform advocates point out that names circulated for top law enforcement posts include opponents of legalization, such as Chris Christie and Rudy Guiliani.
Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national marijuana policy reform group, said he's apprehensive about the implications of a Trump presidency on marijuana policy.
"The reason I am so concerned is because of the people around him," he said.
In Oregon, most of the 60 communities that considered marijuana bans approved them - results that underscore the deep resistance legal marijuana continues to face in parts of the state. Marion County, for instance, voted to keep out the industry, dealing a blow to Golden Leaf Holdings, a company that produces, processes and sells marijuana.
The company already spent more than $3 million on property for a production and processing operation. Beau Whitney, an executive with the Golden Leaf, said the company is disappointed with the results and researching its options.
He said communities that reject the marijuana industry are turning away potential tax revenue and jobs.
They've had time to see that the legal industry hasn't led to a crime wave or other dire predictions, he said.
"They have seen that there is very, very little, if any, impact to communities," he said.
Berger said he was disappointed more voters didn't push back on bans. He was especially upset about the results in Douglas County, a prime growing region, which rejected legal cannabis.
"It's just foolish and bigoted," he said. John Sajo, a longtime marijuana activist in Oregon, has lived in Douglas County for nearly 30 years and hoped to open a licensed marijuana business there but is now searching for another location.
A "vigorous campaign" in the county to defeat the ban didn't do much to sway opposition, he said.
"It seems like people haven't really changed their minds at all since the vote two years ago," he said. Meanwhile, recreational marijuana is about to get a bit more expensive in stores licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
Local sales taxes on cannabis passed in more than 100 communities, including Portland, where officials conservatively estimated it will generate $3 million to $5 million a year. Local governments can add a sales tax of up to 3 percent on recreational sales. That's on top of the 17 percent state tax.
"It's clear from the results that Oregon doesn't like sales taxes unless it's on marijuana," said Sajo.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Albany, Oregon City Among Cities That Rejected Pot Bans
Author: Noelle Crombie
Contact: OregonLive
Photo Credit: Andrew Selsky
Website: OregonLive
