Oregon: Cannabis Greenhouses Proposed For Community Improvement

[Jacob Redmond]

The proposed development of commercial greenhouses to grow recreational marijuana near Lakeview will be discussed at a community meeting set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Lake County Senior Center in Lakeview.

Jerry Chen, co-founder and CEO of the 42nd Group, said the firm envisions using geothermal energy to develop 20 large greenhouses north of Lakeview near Hunter's Hot Springs Resort. He said the business could generate up to 200 jobs and help grow Lakeview's economy.

Monday night's meeting is intended to explain the proposed business and listen to concerns.

"What people don't know is what scares them," Chen said, noting the stereotype growers in movies and television give the industry a negative image.

"We want people to know we are professionals. This is a real industry, a professional industry. It's going to be a very regulated industry. If people have concerns, please come and talk to us. We accept that some people will oppose our plans regardless."

Chen said some specifics of the company's proposal remain unknown, pending rules and regulations by the state of Oregon.

Although recreational marijuana becomes legal July 1, he said his company is waiting to learn yet to-be determined specifics. Preliminary discussions have been held with the Lakeview Town Council and Lake County commissioners.

Chen said his company envisions focusing the greenhouse operations on growing marijuana, but they also plan to grow Asian chili peppers and other specialty crops.

"Geothermal is the key. Without geothermal there is no project," he said, noting geothermal energy would allow year-round growing of cannabis and other agricultural products.

He said Lakeview was selected because of its geothermal and solar energy and because it is a small town with a struggling economy. The company also considered Klamath Falls - "and it still might be a possibility" - but chose Lakeview to help stimulate its economy and add jobs.

"The culture we're used to is helping communities," Chen said. "We're heavy into philanthropy. We've done time and we donate money."

He said the envisioned development will be secure with high fencing and armed guards. Screening for employees will include drug testing. Jobs would include greenhouse workers, clerical staff, drivers and security personnel with wages higher than minimum wage with health benefits.

"We plan to take care of employees and they will take care of us," Chen said.

He also believes legalizing marijuana will improve public safety by providing strict guidelines on the chemistry of cannabis and limited illegal, black market sales.

Depending on the specifics of state and county regulations, Chen said the company would like to begin hiring for office-related jobs this summer and have the greenhouses operable by January 2016.

Under tentative plans, the harvested marijuana will be trucked to Portland, Eugene and other cities with large markets.

Chen, who has a degree in biochemistry with an emphasis in botany and plant biology. He said recreational marijuana "is the next big thing, " as experienced in Colorado and Washington.

"We're professionals. We're not backyard growers," Chen said. We're not criminals coming in. We're not coming in to hurt anyone. This is a real industry. We want to make sure all issues are addressed."

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[Kyhoya]

FYI an informational meeting was held tonight at the Community Center where Jerry Chen of the 42nd Group, Inc explained their desire to develop a 20 green house facility that would be growing Cannabis and be located on property presntly owned by Utley just west of the RV Park, (old Drive-In Theater and south of Hunters).

The discussion became quite lively at times with most of the issues concentrating on the use of the geothermal resources. Only a few people in attendance spoke out against Cannabis itself. The meeting was moderated by Jim Walls of Lake County Resource Initiative and attended by perhaps 50 people.

Mr. Chen indicated the Group had already met with both the Town of Lakeview and with the Lake County Commissioners and had not found any road blocks in their way.

The Group intends to utilize the lower temperature "waste water" returning from heating the Warner Creek Correctional Facility just prior to re injection back into the earth so it should require no additional pumping of the resource for their needs, and have no impact on local resources.

Mr. Chen projected that about 150 people would be hired full time at decent wages, with benefits, in their prospective business with perhaps another 50 part time employees. He assured the crowd they would hire as many Lakeview people as possible if they wanted the employment.

It is their intention to also raise exotic teas, ginseng, peppers, and tomatoes. It was my understanding the group, that claims to have all the private financing they need to move forward, intends to lease the green house facilities out to private Cannabis growers and have other facilities for food production available to the community located not inside the secured and fenced Cannabis area.

The group indicated they have no plans for a retail or processing facility in Lake County, hence all of the product would be marketed out of the area.

They have applied for the permits required from the County, but at this point no decision has been made on their application.

The Group intends to be be ready for production of recreational Cannabis cultivation once the licenses are issued by the Oregon Liquor (and Marijuana) Control Commission in 2016 under Measure 91, approved by the voters in November of last year.

 

[zinwhit]

While I am a project supporter, there are environmental consequences associated with the geothermal development.

Chiefly, the Thermophillic Ostracod and the cyanobacteria they graze upon are unique to science, have been petitioned for threatened and endangered species status, and are threatened once again by the Town of Lakeview and their development of the geothermal resource at Hunters Hot Springs.

Google
Marijuana grow operation raises questions - Herald and News: Local News
Geothermal Project Concerns Owner Of Nearby Geyser : NPR

Furthermore, the Town of Lakeview and its Town Engineer are involved in a questionable "conflict of interest" relationship, as the Town Engineer that is on retainer for the Town also owns a local surveying and engineering business - of which The 42nd Group has contracted.

Investigate, then change things in Lakeview - Herald and News: Letters

In short, The 42nd Group needs to take into consideration that their "sustainable" product may have serious environmental consequences. At their public meeting in Lakeview, I offered my professional assistance in protecting this unique and endangered species through the development of a public park, with boardwalk and interpretation, and the ostracod themselves and the availability of both water of sufficient volume and heat them become an indication of the sustainable take of the geothermal resource at Hunters Hot Springs.

Given that Mr. Chen is both botanist and biochemist, he should be sensitive to both the importance of this species and its environmental needs.