Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Since the Grants Pass City Council banned medical marijuana dispensaries and all other forms of cannabis commerce in the city last year, a lot has changed.
The use of marijuana, whether it be for medical purposes or for recreation, is now legal in the state - as long as you're at least 21 years old.
The city, meanwhile, is surrounded by dispensaries in unincorporated areas of Josephine County and at many locations in neighboring counties. One dispensary is located just outside city limits on the Rogue River Highway.
Voters have the opportunity to weigh in on the city's ban, in the form of Measure 17-73 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The referendum, which was referred by the City Council and will appear on the ballots only for city residents, asks voters to prohibit cannabis commerce. By state law, cities and counties that want such a ban must seek voter approval.
Mayor Darin Fowler and other city officials are confident voters will say no to marijuana by voting yes on 17-73, even though that means the city will lose marijuana tax money from the state as well as losing an opportunity to establish its own 3 percent tax.
"I think it'll pass and the ban will remain in place," Fowler said. "I think citizens will confirm the direction the City Council has already taken."
Local workers in the cannabis industry are making the same assumption.
"I'd be shocked if it passes," said Kit Doyle, owner of Nature Scripts medical marijuana dispensary in Murphy. "Grants Pass is more against it than for it. There is a small percentage for it, but I don't think this year is the year."
Measure 17-73 is on the ballot as a result of several steps that began in November 2014 with the passage of Measure 91, the statewide initiative that legalized recreational marijuana.
Measure 91 won majority support across the state, especially in Portland, but not in Grants Pass, where it narrowly failed 51 percent to 49 percent. In Josephine County, it lost by just three votes out of more than 34,000 cast.
Following passage of Measure 91, the state Legislature adopted rules allowing cities and counties that voted against Measure 91 to enact moratoriums on cannabis commerce - subject to voter approval.
In Grants Pass, the City Council took advantage of the opt-out legislation, banning dispensaries and all other forms of cannabis commerce two weeks after Measure 91 took effect in 2015.
The council also banned outdoor cultivation, including medical marijuana, which had been legal by state law since 1998.
"We decided as a council when the marijuana subject first came up (that) we would be resistant because of our hometown's nature," Fowler said. "The retirement population would be against it. We've been resisting that battle all along."
His stance stands in contrast to several candidates now running for open seats on the City Council who have said they are not against marijuana-related businesses. At recent forums and in interviews with the Daily Courier, all the candidates have promised to abide by the results of 17-73.
One of those candidates is sitting City Councilor Valerie Lovelace, who would like to see Grants Pass and Josephine County collect the money generated from a tax on marijuana. But marijuana is taxed at the retail level, so banning cannabis commerce is likely to leave the city with a much smaller piece of this revenue pie.
"We will be the primary grower and manufacturer of marijuana, and we need to get the financial support from taxes," Lovelace said. "It all goes up to Salem, and Salem disburses it based on population."
That means that the majority of funding will be sent to larger cities.
"If they were to change the funding system to send tax money to where marijuana is grown, the city and county will get a bigger percentage of that money," Lovelace added.
Fowler has frequently spoken in opposition to legalizing marijuana and allowing cannabis commerce,
He and other city officials remain concerned about the practical effects of legalization, from an economic standpoint.
"I don't think we'd allow any manufacturing and processing inside city limits," Fowler said. "We wouldn't have metal buildings popping up with lights and marijuana growing year-round."
Also of concern is knowing how little industrial land is available in the city - land that could be used as locations for marijuana businesses, but probably won't be.
"It's not a good use of industrial land, which is already limited," Fowler said. "We need to save that land for quality jobs."
Other Grants Pass residents who support the legitimacy of the cannabis industry voiced their intent to vote against the city's ban come November.
"Alcohol and gambling are allowed here," said Rycke Brown, a Grants Pass resident who has fought for the legalization of marijuana for years. "We have every other bloody vice in this town, why not this one?"
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Measure 17-73 Would Uphold City's Ban On Dispensaries
Author: Madeline Shannon
Contact: (541) 474-3700
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Website: Daily Courier
The use of marijuana, whether it be for medical purposes or for recreation, is now legal in the state - as long as you're at least 21 years old.
The city, meanwhile, is surrounded by dispensaries in unincorporated areas of Josephine County and at many locations in neighboring counties. One dispensary is located just outside city limits on the Rogue River Highway.
Voters have the opportunity to weigh in on the city's ban, in the form of Measure 17-73 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The referendum, which was referred by the City Council and will appear on the ballots only for city residents, asks voters to prohibit cannabis commerce. By state law, cities and counties that want such a ban must seek voter approval.
Mayor Darin Fowler and other city officials are confident voters will say no to marijuana by voting yes on 17-73, even though that means the city will lose marijuana tax money from the state as well as losing an opportunity to establish its own 3 percent tax.
"I think it'll pass and the ban will remain in place," Fowler said. "I think citizens will confirm the direction the City Council has already taken."
Local workers in the cannabis industry are making the same assumption.
"I'd be shocked if it passes," said Kit Doyle, owner of Nature Scripts medical marijuana dispensary in Murphy. "Grants Pass is more against it than for it. There is a small percentage for it, but I don't think this year is the year."
Measure 17-73 is on the ballot as a result of several steps that began in November 2014 with the passage of Measure 91, the statewide initiative that legalized recreational marijuana.
Measure 91 won majority support across the state, especially in Portland, but not in Grants Pass, where it narrowly failed 51 percent to 49 percent. In Josephine County, it lost by just three votes out of more than 34,000 cast.
Following passage of Measure 91, the state Legislature adopted rules allowing cities and counties that voted against Measure 91 to enact moratoriums on cannabis commerce - subject to voter approval.
In Grants Pass, the City Council took advantage of the opt-out legislation, banning dispensaries and all other forms of cannabis commerce two weeks after Measure 91 took effect in 2015.
The council also banned outdoor cultivation, including medical marijuana, which had been legal by state law since 1998.
"We decided as a council when the marijuana subject first came up (that) we would be resistant because of our hometown's nature," Fowler said. "The retirement population would be against it. We've been resisting that battle all along."
His stance stands in contrast to several candidates now running for open seats on the City Council who have said they are not against marijuana-related businesses. At recent forums and in interviews with the Daily Courier, all the candidates have promised to abide by the results of 17-73.
One of those candidates is sitting City Councilor Valerie Lovelace, who would like to see Grants Pass and Josephine County collect the money generated from a tax on marijuana. But marijuana is taxed at the retail level, so banning cannabis commerce is likely to leave the city with a much smaller piece of this revenue pie.
"We will be the primary grower and manufacturer of marijuana, and we need to get the financial support from taxes," Lovelace said. "It all goes up to Salem, and Salem disburses it based on population."
That means that the majority of funding will be sent to larger cities.
"If they were to change the funding system to send tax money to where marijuana is grown, the city and county will get a bigger percentage of that money," Lovelace added.
Fowler has frequently spoken in opposition to legalizing marijuana and allowing cannabis commerce,
He and other city officials remain concerned about the practical effects of legalization, from an economic standpoint.
"I don't think we'd allow any manufacturing and processing inside city limits," Fowler said. "We wouldn't have metal buildings popping up with lights and marijuana growing year-round."
Also of concern is knowing how little industrial land is available in the city - land that could be used as locations for marijuana businesses, but probably won't be.
"It's not a good use of industrial land, which is already limited," Fowler said. "We need to save that land for quality jobs."
Other Grants Pass residents who support the legitimacy of the cannabis industry voiced their intent to vote against the city's ban come November.
"Alcohol and gambling are allowed here," said Rycke Brown, a Grants Pass resident who has fought for the legalization of marijuana for years. "We have every other bloody vice in this town, why not this one?"
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Measure 17-73 Would Uphold City's Ban On Dispensaries
Author: Madeline Shannon
Contact: (541) 474-3700
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Website: Daily Courier