The Medford City Council voted Thursday to send a potential ban on outdoor and indoor marijuana grows to voters in November.

In addition, voters will be asked whether they want to allow sales of recreational marijuana in the city limits and whether they want a 3 percent tax on those sales.

Voters will decide four different ballot measures related to pot, which could cause some confusion.

"That question was raised," Councilor Michael Zarosinski said.

But the council thought it better to put the measure on the November election in a presidential election year when voter turnout is typically the highest, Zarosinski said.

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IT'S 2016, and things are about to start getting REALLY good for cannabis enthusiasts. Sure, as of last October, those 21 and older could walk into an Oregon Medical Marijuana Program dispensary and purchase up to a quarter ounce of flower, seeds, or clones. And last year we held events where we could stand outside (or under a tent) and enjoy some twisted-up goodness. And right on to that.

Dispensaries that sell the full range of recreational adult-use cannabis products (concentrates, topicals, edibles, etc.) will be opening any day now, and parties are about to start going off where you can smoke indoors to your heart's content. What a great time to be alive!

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Banks Won't Take Pot Money, but State Can Deposit Pot Taxes

Unable to use the banking system, marijuana-related businesses will deliver cash to Salem in February to make their required payments on Oregon's new 25 percent tax on recreational pot sales. The state gladly will accept the cash - and then promptly deposit it in its bank account.

Ramsey Allred, manager of Rogue Valley Cannabis Dispensary on Crater Lake Avenue between Medford and White City, said he's a little concerned about taking cash on a four-hour ride to Salem to pay the tax bill, but he said he's used to operating a cash-only business and in taking precautions to protect it.

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(This column is heavy on science. In the next week or so, maybe I'll write something on cannabis suppositories or what happens if you eat too many medibles before spending the holidays with drunken in-laws.)

LIKE MANY AMERICANS, I consider myself to be fairly smart. This is despite mountains of evidence to the contrary (see "The Stupid Stoner Moments of 2015," Cannabuzz, Jan 6). That said, there are three canna industry professionals in Portland who are so, so, so smart that I get a mild headache after speaking to them (which I attribute to having my mind blown).

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WELL, OREGON: We did it.

We wrapped up the first year (actually, six months) of regulated adult-use cannabis, and it went... just fine. No one lost their mind and put a baby in the oven while tucking the turkey in, or took a toke and then decided, "You know what would be great right about now? Some sweet heroin." People in our state weren't exactly ignorant of all things weed prior to Measure 91, after all, and the overall response seemed to be a charming mix of amusement, curiosity, and relief. The panicked concerns of prohibitionists did not come to pass, and we went on with our lives just fine, thank you very much, albeit with a slightly increased appetite, and a deeper appreciation for just how trippy our hands can be.

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Members of Oregon's congressional delegation this week asked the U.S. postmaster general for a "detailed explanation" of a postal service policy prohibiting mailing material that contains marijuana advertising.

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici -- all Democrats -- signed the letter to Megan J. Brennan, the U.S. postmaster general and CEO of the postal service.

The letter comes days after a regional postal service official warned a Washington newspaper owned by an Oregon company that it is a felony to mail material that includes marijuana advertising.

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IT'S BEEN QUITE a year for anyone who enjoys cannabis in Oregon. On July 1, we went from being dirty, black market, pot-weed smokers to law-abiding canna-enthusiasts whose interest in and enjoyment of the herb is the next gold rush-style economic engine for our state. What you used to struggle to hide upon your person when you left the house-perhaps using turkey bags in a manner for which they were never intended?-you are now welcome to carry up to an ounce when you leave your home. It's perfectly legal.

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"YOU HAVE GOT to be fucking kidding me."

This came from my girlfriend, and while it's practically her catch phrase when addressing my many questionable decisions, in this instance, I was inclined to agree. I was, after all, attempting a Snoop-level canna challenge, and I was struggling.

"It's for... uh... work," I replied, glassy eyed and dry mouthed. "There's this... event, and samples arrived... late, so I need to... vape all this." I launched my bulletproof defense while sunk into the couch, surrounded by a vape whip, 14 pill bottles of weed, an overflowing grinder, and a yellow legal notepad.

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Law Prohibits Use of Water From Reclamation Projects for Marijuana

It's no wonder that marijuana growers gravitate to the Tumalo Irrigation District and other small water districts in Central Oregon.

Their water rights have only loose ties to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation or none at all.

Tumalo Irrigation District has the rights to water, free of federal oversight, that it provides its users because it paid back the money spent by the bureau to build parts of the irrigation system, including Crescent Lake, said Kenneth Rieck, district general manager.

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The Jackson County Planning Commission is recommending a ban for growing marijuana on most land zoned for rural residential use. Rules changes would require plants would have to be set back from neighboring property lines by at least 250 feet? Guess that eliminates 95 percent of the 4,000 small medical marijuana growers that are doing it for patients that need the medication. Jackson County Commissioners are favoring large commercial marijuana growers that can afford to buy large parcels of farm land and have 1,000-plant grows.

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Writer states regulated marijuana market would be safer.

To the Editor:

I was quoted in the Dec. 16 issue of the Blue Mountain Eagle regarding the county ordinance to ban the commercial growing and selling of marijuana in the county. I am not in favor in any way that underage youngsters have access to marijuana. But the reality is that youngsters do have access, and it is easy for them to get it. But they are getting it from an unregulated market.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have approved a plan to build a facility to grow marijuana on their reservation in central Oregon and to sell it at tribe-owned stores outside the reservation.

The tribes are among the first in the country to enter the marijuana-growing business, a year after a Department of Justice policy indicated tribes could grow and sell marijuana under the same guidelines as states that opt to legalize.

Tribal officials said more than 80 percent of tribal voters favored the proposal in the referendum, which was held Thursday.

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PORTLAND - Members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have approved a plan to build a facility to grow marijuana on their reservation in Central Oregon and sell it at tribe-owned stores outside the reservation.

The vote comes a year after a U.S. Department of Justice policy indicated tribes could grow and sell pot under the same guidelines as states that opt to legalize. The tribe is one of the first in the country to enter the pot business.

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Members of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs said yes to growing, processing and selling marijuana on the recreational market in a historic vote Thursday that drew record turnout, tribal officials said.

The referendum passed with 86 percent approval, said Don Sampson, CEO of Warm Springs Ventures, the tribes' economic development corporation, the group behind the proposal.

Sampson said Friday that the election drew about 1,400 voters who "turned out even in a winter storm." Voter turnout among younger tribal members was especially strong.

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CANNA CLAUS, Marijuanakkah, Chronicwanzaa-however you choose to observe, it's the holidaze!

Right now! And you need to buy gifts! Lots of them, and hurry!

No-more than that, ya cheapskate! And look, the good ones are nearly gone! Wait! Can't you get that for $10 less by buying it online?

But oh no! What about supporting local businesses?! Don't you care about small business owners, you selfish dick? And don't forget, this will show people exactly how many dollars' worth you love them, so don't fuck it up.

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Planning Commissioners Will Debate Proposed Regulations After Two Days of Testimony

Marijuana growers would have to own a water right for large operations, establish buffers between neighbors, install odor filtration systems on buildings and refrain from camping out next to grows to guard their crops under proposed regulations before the Jackson County Planning Commission.

The commission heard testimony today and Dec. 3 and will debate the proposed rules at 9 a.m. Monday in the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. Their recommendations will then go before the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.

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This column increased in size by 50 percent a few weeks ago, and yet there is still barely enough space for all the canna-news. Light one up and let's jump right in.

PUFF, PUFF, PUBLISH-Portland made national news this week when our branch of the USPS put out a memo to area newspaper publishers. In it, they reminded our modern-day William Randolph Hearsts that it is still illegal "to place an ad in any publication with the purpose of seeking or offering illegally to receive, buy, or distribute a Schedule I controlled substance." It went on to say, "If an advertisement advocates the purchase of clinical marijuana through a Medical Marijuana Dispensary, it does not comply" with federal law.

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We don't see a lot to take issue with in Jackson County's proposed rules for growing and processing marijuana. There are no doubt a few tweaks that could be made, but in general it appears the rules would allow ample growing while providing some protection for neighbors.

The proposal would establish mandatory buffers between neighbors and the crops - which are notoriously malodorous near harvest time - and require growers to have legal water rights. It also establishes the size and type of structures that may be built for processing, as well as regulations on nighttime lighting and odor filtration systems for indoor operations. And it sets up no-grow zones near schools, parks and a few other sites.

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The Rogue Valley is in a severe drought, and I feel local government officials should monitor all water usage. One particular concern is over water used to grow marijuana.

According to the Mail Tribune, there are 6,070 licensed marijuana growers in Jackson County. I believe each plant uses about one gallon of water daily. Add this up and the outlook for sustainable water is grim.

When water tables go down, wells dry up or may get contaminated with large levels of chemicals such as arsenic. Eventually, low levels may lead to rationing of household water. This will affect all citizens.

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BY NOW, you know that cannabis is awesome for medical and recreational applications. But what about hemp?

Hemp is a type of cannabis sativa plant with low THC content and a skinny, tall-growing profile. At the risk of sounding like a ponytailed guy named Paul after one too many bong hits, I'd like to point out that hemp is also pretty awesome, and can be used to make a wide range of products-and not just drawstring tie-dye hemp pants, bracelets, and ponytail scrunchies, either.

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