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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 Home News Latest Stories White City homeowner starts grass fire, manages to contain it Body found in southeast Medford field Emergency services, May 17 Stolen hives impact beekeepers' livelihoods Public meetings for May 18-22, 2015 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Body found in southeast Medford field Emergency services, May 17 Public meetings for May 18-22, 2015 Feds go after Rogue River lawyer for failing to pay $125,000 in taxes Medford police search for suspect who robbed Flamingo's at gunpoint Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Education SOU student's project tells story of devastating Weed fire South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks State News Oregon wildlife officials eye phased-in hunting, fishing fee increases Wyden's gambit on trade deal pays off Panel sends Jackson, Josephine drought declarations to governor Court overturns $85 million award for Oregon soldiers Oregon families should get $284 in tax rebates next year Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Nita Day Alan Leslie Robins Kathryn "Kay" Blanche White Eva Robarts Donald Kent Hoyt Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Oregon track sweeps at Pac-12s Jack of all trades Allred finishes in 16th at BMW Charity Pro-Am Buescher rallies for Iowa triumph Ducks down Chicago in opener Varsity 541 College Sports Oregon track sweeps at Pac-12s Hovinga stars on mound as Ducks advance Duck men, women lead in Pac-12 track meet Wu falls just short of advancing to NCAAs Beavers continue hot streak, trip Cardinal Pro Sports Allred finishes in 16th at BMW Charity Pro-Am Ducks down Chicago in opener Rockets overcome 3-1 deficit, eliminate Clips McIlroy finishes 21-under, wins Wells Fargo Timbers victimized by late goals Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Blog: L is For... Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Our View: Kicking state government down the road Letters to the Editor, May 17 George Will: Santorum — The return of the GOP's runner-up Dana Milbank: The domain of 'dot-sucks' Other Views: Keeping marijuana away from minors Editorials Our View: Kicking state government down the road Other Views: Keeping marijuana away from minors Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 17 Letters to the Editor, May 15 Letters to the Editor, May 14 Letters to the Editor, May 13 Letters to the Editor, May 12 Columns George Will: Santorum — The return of the GOP's runner-up Dana Milbank: The domain of 'dot-sucks' Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Little Free Libraries Southern Oregon Journal: Little-known 'facts' about certain local birds Adopt a Pet Spring athletes in action Learning to be a water watcher in these dry times Food Community blog: Rhubarb's sour stalks have surprising savory side 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Season Stepp: Use pink lemonade in recipes Quick, easy, versatile Page H. Onorato: Cookbook offers old friend in the kitchen today Home and Garden Learning to be a water watcher in these dry times Betty Montgomery: Longleaf pines making a comeback Pergola, arbor, gazebo: Learn the differences Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs Options abound for gardens in shady spots Health Community blog: Little Free Libraries Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs 5 picks for live entertainment Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Theater 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Music Live Music in Local Clubs Blues great B.B. King dead at 89 Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory Victor D. Infante: If loving bad pop songs is wrong ... The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters Community Events Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Dining 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food From rustic to elegant: Wine tasting in Southern Oregon Quick, easy, versatile Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Jack of all trades ... White City homeowner starts grass fire, manages to contain it ... Body found in southeast Medford field ... Jack of all trades ... White City homeowner starts grass fire, manages to contain it ... Body found in southeast Medford field ... OUR VIEW Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 15, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted May. 15, 2015 @ 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" --> Ask Oregonians what they think about the ongoing debate over marijuana and you'll get one of several answers: Supporters of the approved measure to legalize marijuana are likely to say, "Just get on with it and approve it already." Opponents are likely still opposed. Those is the middle are tired of hearing about it and just want legislators to fix the law and come up with something that's workable. Fix the law — that's where we come down, although we would change that to "fix the laws," because both the medical marijuana and recreational marijuana laws need, at a minimum, some tweaking. That is one of the flaws in the current debate over how — or whether — to alter the laws. If the marijuana rules are not dealt with as a whole we will continue to have a bifurcated mess, with one side of the equation skewing the outcome of the other. The Legislature needs to tear both laws down to the bare bones and rebuild them into something that will protect the rights of legitimate medical marijuana users, effectively regulate marijuana use and ensure that local communities are protected. The base problem facing the Legislature is the existing medical marijuana law. We agree that marijuana has a palliative effect and should continue to be made available to patients. But we also know that there was massive fraud perpetrated in the dissemination of medical marijuana cards. Essentially, if you could claim you had "serious" chronic pain, you could get a card — many of which came from a handful of doctors who have rubber-stamped tens of thousands of requests. Having that card allows you to grow, or have grown for you, six marijuana plants, likely more than you could use if you expected to be sober at some point during the year. One plant producing 1 pound of marijuana creates 912 half-gram joints. Multiply that by six and you get 5,472 joints. Too much of that excess has ended up on the black market, both in Oregon and outside. Those quantities would undercut a legal, recreational marijuana system in which plants are sold at retail, with hefty taxes attached. Under Oregon's newly approved recreational marijuana law, households can possess 8 ounces of marijuana (456 half-gram joints), four mature plants (3,648 joints) and a variety of edible cannabis candies and drinks. Again, far more than realistically would be consumed in one household. Not hard to guess where a good chunk of the excess winds up — on that same black market. Oregon's two marijuana laws need to be fixed in multiple ways. There needs to be oversight and accountability placed on growers, a unified and well-regulated system of dispensaries and more realistic limits placed on the amount of marijuana allowed for individuals and households. There are significant differences in how medical marijuana and recreational marijuana should be treated; one is, after all, a medicine. But if we have two sets of laws that remain disconnected, the system will fail. It may be too late in this legislative session to fully connect the dots between the two, but legislators should do as much as possible now and promise to return in an upcoming session with a more thorough fix.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 15, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( 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 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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