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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Community gathers to mourn slain Seaside officer ... Work expected to begin by summer on Highway 62 bypass ... Josephine County man arrested on drug, child neglect charges ... Community gathers to mourn slain Seaside officer ... Work expected to begin by summer on Highway 62 bypass ... Josephine County man arrested on drug, child neglect charges ... OUR VIEW Our View: Study cannabis in Oregon, but not yet MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted Feb. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A state task force has recommended that Oregon create an independent institute for research into the medical uses of marijuana. The reasons for doing so are sound, and lawmakers should follow the recommendation. But not right away. The task force, created by the 2015 Legislature under the auspices of the Oregon Health Authority, issued its report Monday. The report recommends creating the Oregon Institute for Cannabis Research. The institute would conduct studies both within the university system and outside it, and would raise private funds as well as relying on a dedicate source of state funding. Official research on marijuana has been stymied for years because the federal government restricts access to the plant itself and to funding. The only federally sanctioned research uses marijuana grown at a federal facility at the University of Mississippi, and gaining access to it is complicated and difficult. The task force report argues that Oregon is well positioned to become a leader in cannabis research because voters legalized medical marijuana in 1998 and the medical industry is well established. Other state have authorized research, but none has a dedicated funding source. The funding is the biggest reason to hold off for at least a year before launching this new endeavor. The task force has recommended allocating tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales to provide the public funding portion of the institute's budget. That sounds logical, but voters who legalized recreational marijuana directed the tax money to schools, state and local law enforcement, mental health and alcohol and drug treatment and the Oregon Health Authority. And the state has only just started collecting the tax, so there is no way to know how much will be collected, especially since the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has not yet issued licenses to recreational marijuana outlets. It's unlikely the idea of creating a research institute with yet-to-be-collected marjiuana taxes will gain much traction in this year's short legislative session, and that's a good thing. Lawmakers should wait until the 2017 session, giving the state's fledgling marijuana industry time to get established before siphoning off any tax revenue. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 10, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 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 2016 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. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501