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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 Pot rules pack OLCC hearing in Medford ... County commissioners support GMO lawsuit resolution ... Forecast says foot or more of snow could fall on Mount Ashland by Friday ... Pot rules pack OLCC hearing in Medford ... County commissioners support GMO lawsuit resolution ... Forecast says foot or more of snow could fall on Mount Ashland by Friday ... CONTINUING COVERAGE: MARIJUANA Pot rules pack OLCC hearing in Medford More than 400 drawn to OLCC hearing on new rules for recreational pot By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Dec. 8, 2015 @ 5:04 pm Updated at 5:06 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Dec. 8, 2015 @ 5:04 pm Updated at 5:06 PM Pot license costs --> The following will be charged for recreational pot licenses once the OLCC starts issuing them after Jan. 1: Application: $250, nonrefundable Producers: Tier I (small scale), $3,750... » Read more X Pot license costs The following will be charged for recreational pot licenses once the OLCC starts issuing them after Jan. 1: Application: $250, nonrefundable Producers: Tier I (small scale), $3,750; Tier II (large scale), $5,750 Processors: $4,750 Wholesalers: $4,750 Retailers: $4,750 Laboratories: $4,750 » 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" --> Myriad rules about the burgeoning recreational cannabis industry are still coming into focus, but Southern Oregon growers, producers, processors and others told the Oregon Liquor Control Commission today they'll be ready once the agency starts accepting applications on Jan. 4 for state licenses. More than 400 marijuana industry representatives packed into the convention room at the Inn at the Commons in downtown Medford as OLCC officials answered questions and acknowledged they might not have all the answers yet because they are continuing to work on the rules. “I find them fuzzy,” said Mary Birmingham, a resident of the tiny community of Wonder in Josephine County. “I find them fluid.” OLCC officials acknowledged that many in the audience knew more than they did about marijuana operations, but it was up to the OLCC to make sure they’ve created an effective regulatory apparatus. “This is about working together,” said Will Higland, senior director of licensing and compliance for OLCC. “We’re not going to be the big bad wolf hiding behind trees.” Higland said many of the rules are designed to keep Oregon off the radar of federal officials. The U.S. government considers marijuana a Schedule 1 drug, which is the same classification as heroin. “These are things that are going to keep us all out of jail,” he said. Birmingham said she appreciates environmental oversight of pot productions and currently grows medical marijuana for herself and her husband. “I liked them (the OLCC) saying they will work with us the best they can,” Birmingham said. “We’re all going to do our best to color between the lines.” She wondered whether her daughter could grow recreational marijuana on the same property as her medical garden. The answer was no, though the state does have provisions to allow excess medical marijuana to be sold as recreational. Birmingham's daughter, 38-year-old Amber Birmingham, will have to grow on another 20-acre property in Cave Junction with some friends from Humboldt County, Calif., who have experience cultivating marijuana. In a show of hands, most of the audience members indicated they’re producers of marijuana. Others identified themselves as potential processors, retailers, wholesalers or laboratory owners. The OLCC has issued 70 pages of temporary rules, many of which will be revised throughout 2016. Retail marijuana shops likely will begin operation in October 2016, though medical marijuana dispensaries already can sell recreational pot under a temporary state law. An application fee will cost $250, but the actual license for a large-scale marijuana producer would cost $5,750. Small-scale recreational growers would pay $3,750 for a license. Producers, wholesalers, retailers, laboratories and those engaged in marijuana research would each pay $4,750. Amanda Borup, policy analyst with the recreational program for the OLCC, said some of the regulations will include making sure employees receive proper training, particularly for processors who rely on heat and chemicals for extractions. Those engaged in the cannabis industry should offer the same price to everyone and also offer the same discounts to everyone, Borup said. All laboratories will be required to have the same state standards in testing marijuana for pesticides, molds and for potency. “It should end the lab shopping,” Borup said. Michael Monarch, owner of Green Valley Wellness in Talent, was one of several dozen people who asked questions of the OLCC. “We’re at an amazing stage in our industry,” he said. Monarch wanted to know whether it’s possible to locate a medical marijuana dispensary and a recreational dispensary in the same building. “No, they can’t be in the same building,” said Rob Patridge, chairman of the OLCC. However, the OLCC has asked the Legislature to consider changing the law to allow co-location of the two facilities, Patridge said. Jamie Sykers is one of the more well-known marijuana producers locally, selling his concentrates and extracts to 130 dispensaries throughout Oregon under the business name, Dirty Arm Farm. Sykers seemed to be very familiar with local and state laws regarding marijuana processing and production. “It requires people to wear multiple hats,” Sykers said. He specializes in producing products with high levels of CBDs, or cannabidiol, an ingredient in marijuana that is good for pain relief. Sykers said he has a 6-year-old patient with cerebral palsy who has seen marked improvement. “CBDs are often described as a warm blanket for the nervous system,” Sykers said. With a farm in the Applegate, Sykers is planning to start another farm near Ashland. Sykers said he was fully aware of local rules that could affect his cannabis business. Sykers said he wants to appeal to Jackson County to allow him to process his extracts at his farm rather than starting up a processing facility in an industrial-zoned area such as White City. He said the “closed-loop” extraction methods he uses do not result in the kind of explosions that have made the news in Colorado. Grants Pass resident Sean Williams said he wanted to start marijuana production as a retirement business for his 71-year-old mother, who has cancer. Sykers told him he was about 10 years too late to get into production. Williams, 42, said he thought he could be more successful at production because he would treat it strictly as a business and has no personal interest in consuming marijuana. He said he would be hiring people to grow the marijuana. Considering that he’s stayed away from illegal activity most of his life, Williams said it’s a little strange to be jumping into the pot business. “We were very law-and-order once,” he said. “Now we’re getting into the drug industry.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Dec. 8, 2015 @ 5:04 pm Updated at 5:06 PM » 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. 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