When the clock struck midnight on July 1, a large pro-pot contingent gathered on Portland’s Burnside Bridge under a cloud of smoke, celebrating the historic occasion with free cannabis, freely smoked. But in Bend, the celebration was more subdued. On July 1, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel let it be known that the legalization […]
Weed
Posted inOpinion
Letters 5/12-5/19
IN REPLY TO: “ROBBING THE PRINCE TO PAY THE PAUPER” (5/13) While I agree with the editors that it would be great to allocate funds from the Hotel Tax for other purposes, under state law 70 percent of hotel tax revenue must be applied towards tourist related advertising or infrastructure. Currently the remaining 30 percent […]
Posted inNews
Another Type of Green
Medical and recreational pot businesses have been facing an ongoing struggle with the banking system, often being forced to deal only in cash. Many banks in states like Oregon and Washington have been hesitant to do business with marijuana operations for fear of being federally prosecuted. In February 2014, the Obama Administration introduced new guidelines […]
Posted inNews
A Lesson in Supply & Demand
New regulations have been proposed by Oregon legislators to limit existing pot growers in most areas to 96 plants and 24 plants in residential areas, and medical marijuana patients and growers are none too happy. Lawmakers argue that the limitations will help curb the alleged cannabis black market. According to the Oregonian, Sen. Ginny Burdick […]
Posted inNews
Smoke Signals 4/15-4/22
Weed on Weed Action
In November, when voters passed Measure 91 to legalize recreational marijuana in the state of Oregon, it was hardly expected that there would be a serious weed on weed tension. The system for allowing medical marijuana—namely, through doctors’ notes and licensed dispensaries—has been in place for almost 17 years, but as a due date for […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 4/7-4/14
IN REPLY TO “UNNECESSARY LOUDNESS” (4/8) I have been a patron of the Riverside Market for 6 years. I suspect the writer of this letter is “new to the neighborhood” and probably to Bend, as much of their rant seems highly aggregated. I’d bet money that if the writer of this letter lived next to one of […]
Posted inNews
Smoke Signals 4/8-4/15
They Are a Small Business After All
Probably even a year ago, it would have been jawdropping to see a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator standing up for marijuana. But on Thursday, April 9, Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Sen. Ron Wyden will present an idea to help make life easier for marijuana growers and retailers. Perhaps one of the most pressing and […]
Posted inNews
Editor’s Note: In this week’s issue
Like it or not, weed is coming to Central Oregon. In last week’s issue, Associate Editor Erin Rook wrote a far-reaching feature about how the legalization of recreational marijuana is presenting changes and challenges to Central Oregon. He wrote about the potential tax windfalls (which the City of Bend failed to capitalize on), and on […]
Posted inNews
Prepping for Pot
As legalization approaches, Bendites consider the implications
Were the legalization of weed a pregnancy, with its conception marked during the month before the election and its due date July 1, the day that pot is officially legal in Oregon, we’d be entering the third trimester. The nursery walls would be painted, the crib built, the cabinet filled with diapers and onesies. But […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters 10/14-10/21
VOTE YES ON MEASURE 92 TO LABEL GMOS Don’t be taken in by the opponents’ deceptions on Measure 92. Consumers will NOT spend more for food items. Labeling has already occurred in 64 countries with no increase in prices. A current 14-page Consumer Union report last week found that a potential cost to the consumer […]