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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Guest Opinion: Water use at Southern Oregon University ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Sharing our stories ... Guest Opinion: Guns: a down-under solution? ... Guest Opinion: Water use at Southern Oregon University ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Sharing our stories ... Guest Opinion: Guns: a down-under solution? ... OUR VIEW Our View: A smooth start Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Oregon lawmakers are rapidly finishing work on measures to launch the state's recreational marijuana law July 1. In Ashland, thanks to the City Council's measured, reasonable approach over the past year, the transition should be a smooth one. While some communities dithered over dispensaries after lawmakers allowed them to distribute legal medical marijuana, Ashland implemented reasonable restrictions on location and hours of operation and decided to allow dispensaries to open once they obtained a state license. That's in contrast to Medford, where no dispensaries have yet been approved and where the City Council was poised to ban backyard growing of the four plants permitted under the new legalization law until cooler heads prevailed.    On Thursday, the joint House-Senate committee working out rules for implementing Ballot Measure 91 approved a bill that would allow recreational marijuana to be sold through existing medical marijuana dispensaries as early as this October. If that measure passes, Ashland will be ready to join the new retail market as soon as it begins. As long as marijuana legalization is a fact, it only makes sense for local communities to permit the market to function, providing jobs and tax revenue, rather than resisting. After marijuana becomes legal for any adult to possess and consume next Wednesday, every day that retail sales are delayed will be a day when black market operators will be glad to step in and meet the demand. The sooner legal sales begin the better, and Ashland appears to be ready.  DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501