Since recreational marijuana grow operations were first legalized statewide in 2015, land-use disputes have overwhelmed Deschutes County officials. An ongoing influx of controversial applications prompted the enforcement of a county moratorium in August of last year, prohibiting new grow and operation applications. On the upcoming November ballot, local voters will have the opportunity to opt […]
Pot
From Vapegate to LUBA
Believe it or not, there was some news in 2019 not totally related to the Oval Office. The U.S. Congress (excluding the do-nothing Senate), the Deschutes County Commission and the Oregon state legislature had a busy 364.5 days when it came to crafting, fighting or violating marijuana policy. Federal activity The House Judiciary Committee made history […]
YAC buffers and Sex Offenders
In October, the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals decided that the Deschutes County Commissioners’ definition of a “youth activity center” amounted to an unreasonable restriction on marijuana farms. Since then, I have to admit I’ve been anxiously awaiting another Deschutes County Board meeting to put marijuana land-use on their agenda. On Dec. 11, I […]
Prescription Pot
Over the years of writing this column, I’ve gotten to meet and interview a lot of great people. One of my all-time favorite subjects to spend time with is Elvy Musikka, who I profiled in 2017 for being one of the last remaining Americans approved to receive cannabis from the federal government for medical conditions. […]
If Residents Want an Opt-Out on Marijuana, Let Residents Put It on the Ballot Themselves
Ahead of the November 2018 election, then-candidate Patti Adair ran for Deschutes County Commissioner on two key platforms: Fiscal conservativism and being anti-marijuana. Since winning that electionโby a narrow marginโand serving on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, she’s held true to being against marijuana growing in the county. On being a fiscal conservative, however, […]
What Musicians Consume
History shows that cannabis gained widespread awareness thanks to jazz musicians from New Orleans who shared it while touring. It even spawned an entire genre of music based around cannabis, known as “Viper Jazz,” named so because of the snake-like hissing sound of someone toking on a joint. Louis Armstrong even endorsed cannabis, saying, “One […]
County Changes Pot Rules
The Deschutes County Commission has implemented a series of changes to its rules around growing recreational marijuanaโand 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 […]
Cannabis Collab Seeking New Members
Since the passage of Measure 91 in 2014 and the official legalization of recreational cannabis in 2015, the budding industry has seen its ups and downs. From the uncertainty of which counties and cities would allow cannabis to be sold and/or grown, to ever-changing regulations, and now, the notions of overproduction, and even a backlash […]
Cannabis Love: Oregonians talk the industry
Happy weekend! Unless you’ve been hiding away in your mama’s basement with no access to the innermets for the past two-three years, chances are you’ve heard about this lil ol’ thing called legal cannabis in Oregon. The industry, legal since 2015 in Oregon, brought in a few pennies in 2017… $70 million in tax dollars, […]
Can You Spot the Fake Review?
As I’ve mentioned in previous columns, I receive a fairly large number of items for review. And no, not all of them are cannabis products. (Begging the question, what the HELL, Oregon cannabis community?) So this week, we are going to knock out reviews for a bevy of items, with the understanding that one of […]

