Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jul 2015
Source: Herald and News (Klamath Falls, OR)
Copyright: 2015 Herald and News
Contact:  http://www.heraldandnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2600
Author: Carisa Cegavske

SOUTHWEST OREGON COUNTY PUTS POT SALES ON FALL BALLOT

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - Voters will decide in 2016 whether to bar 
marijuana sales in the unincorporated parts of Douglas County.

The county Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two ordinances 
this week after hearing impassioned testimony from marijuana fans and foes.

The first would bar medical marijuana dispensaries in rural parts of 
the southwest Oregon county from selling recreational marijuana 
products; however, it will have no immediate impact because there are 
no dispensaries in those areas.

The second ordinance will let voters decide if medical or 
recreational marijuana retail outlets should be allowed in the 
county's unincorporated areas - those places outside Roseburg, 
Sutherlin and other incorporated cities. The vote will take place in 
November 2016.

Some audience members testified that medical marijuana had helped 
them. Others said that growing and selling recreational marijuana 
could be a boon to the local economy. Still others said marijuana 
legalization harms families and puts kids at risk.

Currently, there are no medical or recreational marijuana retailers 
in the county's unincorporated areas. If voters approve the proposed 
restrictions, there never will be.

Statewide, voters legalized recreational marijuana when they approved 
Measure 91. In Douglas County, though, 54.5 percent of voters 
rejected Measure 91.

Counties that voted against Measure 91 can opt out under legislation 
passed this year. But because the "no" votes were less than 55 
percent of those cast, the question must be put before the voters.

Richard Chasm, a member of the Umpqua Cannabis Association, said he 
favors allowing marijuana sales in rural areas.

Chasm said Douglas County has the land, the water and the sun 
cannabis plants need, so it is poised to become one of the biggest 
marijuana producing counties in Oregon. That could be great for 
economic and job growth, Chasm said. And the people who get those 
jobs would spend most of their money locally, he said.

"This could be a tremendous economic benefit to Douglas County, a 
tremendous economic benefit to rural people, rural landowners, 
farmers, family farmers," he said.

Kay Bjornson went a step further.

"What are we going to do? Are we going to lay back and shoot 
ourselves in the foot and piss away the opportunity to make Douglas 
County the marijuana-growing capital of the world, or at least the 
U.S.?" he said.

The Rev. Clint Caviness, on the other hand, said the cost to families 
would be very high. Caviness, pastor of Victory Baptist Church in 
Roseburg, counsels families and said he has never worked with a 
family that was made stronger through marijuana use.

"A high parent cannot be the best version of himself. In fact, he's 
often not even a functional version of himself," Caviness said.

Lt. Patrick Moore, director of the Douglas Interagency Narcotics 
Team, said he is concerned about children getting their hands on 
marijuana edibles with high concentrations of THC, the chemical that 
gives marijuana users the high. He also said studies show that 
marijuana use among youths increases when the drug is legalized.

"Youth use goes up with every step of legitimization. Abuse goes up 
with every step of legitimization," Moore said.

Veteran Scott Newman said medicinal marijuana treats his depression 
and has made him a better person.

"Cannabis has done for me in four years what the VA couldn't do in a 
decade with all the medications in their pharmacopoeia," Newman said.

Betsy Cunningham said the commissioners shouldn't buy into what she 
called the "hysterical rhetoric" from marijuana opponents.

"The immediate threat to all of us is the overconsumption of 
alcohol," she said. "That really does cost lives."

The businesses that voters will be asked to prohibit in 2016 include 
marijuana processing, wholesalers, medical marijuana dispensaries and 
recreational marijuana retailers. It will not impact people who grow 
their own marijuana for personal use.

County Commissioner Tim Freeman said he doesn't see a need for 
dispensaries in areas outside any city's limits, where, he notes, 
there are no pharmacies.

"I believe the incorporated areas provide plenty of access," he said.

But, he added, it's the voters who will make the choice in 2016.

"Instead of three commissioners deciding, the people of Douglas 
County are going to be able to decide if they want this in their 
community or not," Freeman said.

Information from: The News-Review, http://www.nrtoday.com
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom