Much like the national political climate, in which we’re witnessing a loony, right-wing president drive insane policies to fights in the federal courts, our own right-wing Deschutes Board of County Commissioners may be driving our rural cannabis industry to Salem to seek a change to Deschutes County rules. First, an update to a story we […]
Phil Henderson
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor
Bend City Council Has the Bend City Council lost its fricken mind? This is my own “Political Analysis,” in effect “the story behind the story” that most readers will not see in the local press. I believe Sally Russell is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” She ran as a member of the Democratic Party and […]
Posted inNews
County Board vs. Marijuana: Axes are grinding
Rookie Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair, sworn in last month, got to take her first crack at blocking a marijuana grow land-use permit application during deliberations in a business meeting Jan. 30, alongside Board Chair Phil Henderson. (Commissioner Tony DeBone was not present for the deliberations.) The applicants, who are proposing a grow off of […]
Posted inNews
New County Commission Chooses Leadership
Henderson becomes chair; Adair vice chair
Recently elected Commissioner Patti Adair and re-elected Commissioner Tony DeBone started the new year off by taking their seats on the Deschutes County Commission. Commissioners chose their new chair and vice-chair during the work session Monday. Adair wasted no time getting her feet wet, nominating past vice-chair Phil Henderson to become the new chair. Past […]
Posted inNews
Deschutes County Farm Bureau Appeals New Pot Rules
Will right-to-farm rules apply to marijuana after next legislative session?
After the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners used an “emergency” clause Oct. 24 to quickly change some of its rules for growing recreational marijuana in the County, the Deschutes County Farm Bureau filed a motion to have the changes appealed. Matt Cyrus from the Deschutes County Farm Bureau says the agriculture advocacy group on Nov. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
The State of Cannabis in Deschutes County—and Beyond
From rule changes to overproduction, there’s a lot going on in the world of weed
There’s a lot going on out there in the world of cannabis, including rule changes at the county level, overproduction, the black market and hemp. So sit back, maybe even light a doob, and read on. Deschutes County Rule Changes The current Deschutes County Commission, made up of Tony DeBone, Phil Henderson and Tammy Baney, […]
Posted inNews
County Changes Pot Rules
Commissioners declare an “emergency” to implement new rules sooner
The Deschutes County Commission has implemented a series of changes to its rules around growing recreational marijuana—and declared an “emergency” to make sure the rules go into effect sooner than the typical 90 days. The rules, which commissioners voted on Wednesday, include new regulations around odor, noise, lighting and reporting, among other changes. Although a […]
Posted inNews
Curbside Composting?
Knott Landfill is nearing capacity. Can removing food waste give it a longer lease on life?
Knott Landfill—the only landfill in Deschutes County—is getting stuffed full. County officials estimate that if the current levels of garbage continue, it has a life expectancy of 12 more years. Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone said the County’s not looking for another landfill location yet, and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee is looking at the […]
Posted inNews
Tokin’ Times
The latest in cannabis news
The overproduction myth What do Iowa corn, Idaho potatoes and Kentucky tobacco have in common with Oregon marijuana? All are home-grown natural resources that the residents of the states from which the crops originate could not possibly consume all by their lonesome. Yet, here in Oregon, where our crop arguably has as much or more […]
Posted inNews
A New Place to Call Home
A donation from Deschutes County will add 19 more affordable homes to the community
The high costs of land and construction labor are some of the factors making housing so expensive in Central Oregon and elsewhere. But recently, Deschutes County stepped in to help. The County just donated 1.85 acres to Habitat for Humanity in La Pine, soon be home to 19 multifamily townhomes—a new type of home for […]