Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
La Grande - Rona Lindsey said turning away customers deeply troubles her. As a former administrator at the Union County Chamber of Commerce, viewing tail lights as car after car heads right back to Interstate 84 is tough to watch.
"It tears me in two," the Hwy 30 Cannabis owner said.
And it's a scene she said unfolds daily, with increasing regularity since January, when the recreational sale of marijuana became legal in Oregon - but not in La Grande.
Visitors from around the region enter the store, inquiring about what to do in the area. Before the conversation gets too deep, however, Lindsey has to ask one pressing question: "Are you a medical patient?"
Some are, but plenty are not. Depending on where they are from in Oregon or Washington, for some customers buying marijuana is like buying a six-pack.
"So you have to educate them on what the city did with the opt-out," Lindsey said.
Patrons' reactions are similar, Lindsey said: a mix of shock and incredulity that recreational marijuana sales are banned in La Grande.
"Now they have to stop in Huntington, or Hood River. Those are the closest (recreational dispensaries)," she said. "Or they go to Walla Walla, (Washington) and take chances on driving back across the state line. Why are we making people criminals when it's legal?"
It's the reason Lindsey is starting a La Grande voter initiative for the November's election, of which she is awaiting review by the city's attorney, that would allow recreational sales it the city. She has to collect over 900 signatures from registered voters by Aug. 10, and she's organizing a signing and educational event at the end of the month.
Lindsey hopes experiences in other cities such as Huntington, about 90 miles southeast of La Grande, show the fruits of recreational sales.
Of those cities with recreational marijuana sales closest to La Grande, Huntington has one of the most recent openings: 420Ville, a medical marijuana dispensary that began selling for recreational use in February.
When Chuck Guerri was a city councilor for Huntington, he voted against allowing recreational marijuana sales during a November 2015 meeting. Despite his vote, the council approved the application.
Now the mayor of the town of 440, Guerri still isn't an advocate for recreational use.
"I think the medical (aspect) has some validity, and it looks like it has some issues where it helps," he said. "But I'm not a fan (of recreational)."
He is a fan, however, of more revenue for his town. With the success of 420Ville, his stance, while not completely swinging 180 degrees, has softened.
And that's before getting into potential tax revenue for Huntington. Oregon law stipulates that recreational marijuana sales be taxed at 25 percent. The tax on recreational pot eventually will be replaced with a levy ranging from 17 percent to 20 percent, once the Oregon Liquor Control Commission begins regulating recreational marijuana sales later this year. The Legislature set the base tax rate at 17 percent, but cities and counties can adopt ordinances that add up to an additional 3 percent.
In Union County, 59 percent of voters opposed Measure 91, which left the opt-out issue to each city. The La Grande City Council voted 5-1 to opt out last fall and discontinue discussion about the issue. La Grande Mayor Steve Clements was absent and did not vote on the issue.
John Bozarth is one of the city councilors who voted against recreational sales, and the revenue doesn't outweigh his beliefs.
"If we've got to rely on that type of revenue to keep our city going, let's just close up the city, as far as I'm concerned," said Bozarth, who is running for mayor. "I just don't think we need that type of revenue to run our city.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Shop Owner Starts Initiative For Recreational Pot
Author: Josh Benham
Contact: 541-382-1811
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Bulletin
"It tears me in two," the Hwy 30 Cannabis owner said.
And it's a scene she said unfolds daily, with increasing regularity since January, when the recreational sale of marijuana became legal in Oregon - but not in La Grande.
Visitors from around the region enter the store, inquiring about what to do in the area. Before the conversation gets too deep, however, Lindsey has to ask one pressing question: "Are you a medical patient?"
Some are, but plenty are not. Depending on where they are from in Oregon or Washington, for some customers buying marijuana is like buying a six-pack.
"So you have to educate them on what the city did with the opt-out," Lindsey said.
Patrons' reactions are similar, Lindsey said: a mix of shock and incredulity that recreational marijuana sales are banned in La Grande.
"Now they have to stop in Huntington, or Hood River. Those are the closest (recreational dispensaries)," she said. "Or they go to Walla Walla, (Washington) and take chances on driving back across the state line. Why are we making people criminals when it's legal?"
It's the reason Lindsey is starting a La Grande voter initiative for the November's election, of which she is awaiting review by the city's attorney, that would allow recreational sales it the city. She has to collect over 900 signatures from registered voters by Aug. 10, and she's organizing a signing and educational event at the end of the month.
Lindsey hopes experiences in other cities such as Huntington, about 90 miles southeast of La Grande, show the fruits of recreational sales.
Of those cities with recreational marijuana sales closest to La Grande, Huntington has one of the most recent openings: 420Ville, a medical marijuana dispensary that began selling for recreational use in February.
When Chuck Guerri was a city councilor for Huntington, he voted against allowing recreational marijuana sales during a November 2015 meeting. Despite his vote, the council approved the application.
Now the mayor of the town of 440, Guerri still isn't an advocate for recreational use.
"I think the medical (aspect) has some validity, and it looks like it has some issues where it helps," he said. "But I'm not a fan (of recreational)."
He is a fan, however, of more revenue for his town. With the success of 420Ville, his stance, while not completely swinging 180 degrees, has softened.
And that's before getting into potential tax revenue for Huntington. Oregon law stipulates that recreational marijuana sales be taxed at 25 percent. The tax on recreational pot eventually will be replaced with a levy ranging from 17 percent to 20 percent, once the Oregon Liquor Control Commission begins regulating recreational marijuana sales later this year. The Legislature set the base tax rate at 17 percent, but cities and counties can adopt ordinances that add up to an additional 3 percent.
In Union County, 59 percent of voters opposed Measure 91, which left the opt-out issue to each city. The La Grande City Council voted 5-1 to opt out last fall and discontinue discussion about the issue. La Grande Mayor Steve Clements was absent and did not vote on the issue.
John Bozarth is one of the city councilors who voted against recreational sales, and the revenue doesn't outweigh his beliefs.
"If we've got to rely on that type of revenue to keep our city going, let's just close up the city, as far as I'm concerned," said Bozarth, who is running for mayor. "I just don't think we need that type of revenue to run our city.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Shop Owner Starts Initiative For Recreational Pot
Author: Josh Benham
Contact: 541-382-1811
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: The Bulletin