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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Living with wildfire Prospect-area cow death likely not a wolf kill Art to Inspire Charter change shot down Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Selma man pleads guilty to murder in bar stabbing Medford police plan survey in Union Park neighborhood Wrap Up, Nov. 7, 2014 Latino relations with Medford police get mixed reviews Politics and Elections Ballot measures played little role in mobilizing voters in state Senate race 'Euphoria' over pot initiative Oregon voters narrowly reject GMO labeling measure Statewide voter turnout close to 70 percent Marsh, Seffinger win big in Ashland council races Education Crater students present play about Thoreau's night in jail Half of Oregon's community college enrollees need remedial classes Marketta Gregory: Stretch yourself for God Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Environment Prospect-area cow death likely not a wolf kill Navickas ordered to pay court filing fees Well owners can help map groundwater quality Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? 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Shady Cove poacher cooperating with feds to cut sentence ... Latino relations with Medford police get mixed reviews ... Prospect-area cow death likely not a wolf kill ... Shady Cove poacher cooperating with feds to cut sentence ... Latino relations with Medford police get mixed reviews ... ACTION ON TAXES,FEES STILL TO COME Ashland council lifts moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries By Ian Hand Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ian Hand Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 6, 2014 @ 8:11 pm By Ian Hand Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 6, 2014 @ 8:11 pm » Social News A moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries in Ashland was lifted by the City Council Tuesday night, while regulations on their operation, location and taxation were approved. Councilors enacted the moratorium in April to allow time to work out the regulations. The ordinances regarding operation of dispensaries and taxes will take effect Sept. 4, while the lifting of the moratorium takes effect immediately. “A dispensary could open up in the city between now and when the other ordinances take effect,” City Administrator Dave Kanner said. “However, the ordinances are retroactive, so they would need to be in compliance with the ordinances by Sept. 4.” Two dispensaries in Ashland, one on Williamson Way and another on Clear Creek Drive, have been issued provisional licenses by the state to open. The operator of the Williamson Way dispensary declined on Wednesday to comment on the lifting of the moratorium. Attempts to reach the operator of a proposed dispensary on Clear Creek Drive were unsuccessful. The ordinance outlines the process of obtaining a dispensary permit from the city, which is required in addition to a city business license. Permits must be renewed annually. Fees will be determined at a later date by a council resolution. Dispensaries cannot manufacture or produce any extracts, oils, resins or other marijuana derivatives on-site, and open flame cannot be used in preparation of any products. In addition, marijuana and tobacco products cannot be smoked or consumed on the premises of a dispensary. Dispensary operating hours are restricted. They may not open earlier than 9 a.m. or remain open later than 7 p.m. “Those are the operating hours of the pharmacy at Bi-Mart,” Councilor Pam Marsh said. “I think, at least hours-wise, we should treat dispensaries like a pharmacy.” Councilor Carol Voisin proposed an amendment to require background checks by the city for operators, financers and employees of dispensaries as a permit condition, in addition to the background checks the state conducts on operators. Councilor Dennis Slattery had some opposition to the inclusion of employees in the amendment. “We’re a country that forgives,” Slattery said. “I don’t want to exclude someone from work that they may be qualified for.” Councilor Greg Lemhouse said he believes this would provide more transparency in regard to dispensary practices. “We want to put the community members at the highest level of comfort that these facilities are clean, safe and legitimate,” he said. The amendment was adopted. Alex Rogers, chief executive officer of Ashland Alternative Health, 180 Clear Creek Dr., said he applauds the council for its decision. Ashland Alternative Health is a clinic that helps qualifying patients acquire medical marijuana cards from the state. “Before this, patients had to rely solely on growers and the black market,” Rogers said. “Now they have safe access to their medicine.” A medical marijuana dispensary operated from late last year through April at Puff’s Smoke Shop on Ashland Street. It was closed by state order because it was, barely, within 1,000 feet of a school. Councilors also passed an ordinance Tuesday that will impose a tax on the sale of marijuana for medical use and, should Oregon voters legalize recreational use in November, for recreational purposes. While the original ordinance proposed a tax rate of no more than 5 percent for medical sales and 10 percent for recreational sales, Councilor Rich Rosenthal proposed an amendment, which was approved by the council, to remove those limits from the ordinance and allow the tax rate to be set by council resolution at a later date. A motion by Lemhouse to eliminate the tax from medical sales failed, 4-2. “If it’s medicine, let’s treat it like medicine,” he said. “I don’t want to tax someone’s medicine.” Slattery agreed, saying that, while future councils could change the tax rates, eliminating the medical marijuana tax would make a value statement to future councils that medical marijuana should not be taxed locally. The rate decision is now up to future council deliberation. Kanner intends to have a tax resolution ready for the council's next meeting on Aug. 19. He said the fees resolution is likely to be ready for the council by its Sept. 2 meeting. Reach reporter Ian Hand at 541-776-4464. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/IanHand_DT. By Ian Hand Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ian Hand Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 6, 2014 @ 8:11 pm » 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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