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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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Rogue Valley pair hope supporters will breathe life into 'Don't Die' ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 19, 1915 ... RCC lands $14.6 million job-training grant for low-income students ... Rogue Valley pair hope supporters will breathe life into 'Don't Die' ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 19, 1915 ... RCC lands $14.6 million job-training grant for low-income students ... MARIJUANA Lawmakers butt heads over pot rules Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 19, 2015 at 5:12 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 19, 2015 at 5:12 PM » Social News Pot’s road to legalization has hit a rough patch lately, with the Legislature bumping heads over whether cities and counties can ban medical cannabis outlets. A Senate committee wants to give cities and counties more authority to ban pot dispensaries while also allowing them to enact local taxes on marijuana. A House cannabis committee earlier reached an impasse over whether cities should be able to ban dispensaries. Jackson County voters approved an up to 25-percent tax on marijuana during a special election in March, tasking commissioners with setting the actual tax rate. So far commissioners have set the rate at zero percent. “I would hope they would honor the vote of citizens in Jackson County,” Jackson County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal said. Breidenthal said the state should treat the county tax the same way it allowed a local ban on genetically modified crops even though the rest of the state can’t have local bans. The county has taken steps that will allow medical marijuana dispensaries but is awaiting direction from the state for pot legalization, Breidenthal said. He said the state needs to track and regulate medical marijuana more effectively. “The medical marijuana industry is feeding the black market,” he said. “That is known by everybody.” He said the issue of taxation and the ability of local jurisdictions to ban dispensaries is one of local control. A House panel earlier attempted to create rules and regulations after voters last November approved Measure 91, which legalizes recreational pot for anyone 21 or older. A Joint Committee on Implementing Measure 91 failed to come to agreement over the question of whether local cities could opt out of allowing medical pot dispensaries. Because the committee couldn't reach agreement, the Senate tasked its own committee with studying the issue and has unveiled Senate Bill 964, which would allow cities and counties to ban dispensaries but allow voters to gather enough signatures to force the issue onto the ballot. The House has generally maintained that voters should decide on any ban rather than allowing cities and counties to have that option, which is similar to the intent of Measure 91. Legislators have been pushing to change the $35-an-ounce tax on marijuana flowers allowed under Measure 91. They want a sales tax that rises and falls depending on the price of marijuana. A rate hasn’t been chosen yet, but legislators want to find the right tax to discourage the black market for weed. Medford has banned medical marijuana dispensaries and has enacted a pot tax. The city had hoped the Legislature would draw up rules that would help cities tackle the issue of recreational and medical pot. Medford Councilor Daniel Bunn said the Senate committee gives cities some authority, but he has an issue with the state possibly not allowing taxing authority by local jurisdictions. “It’s not an ideal solution, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Bunn said. Alan Tresidder, who represents the Oregon Cannabis PAC (political action committee), said the people he represents oppose local bans on marijuana unless they are enacted by a vote of local citizens, not by a decision of a local city council or board of commissioners. Tresidder said his group also opposes any local tax on marijuana. “One statewide tax, and that’s good enough,” he said. Despite the latest legislative efforts to grapple with marijuana, Tresidder said, “We’re a long way from the end.” He said he applauds the joint committee on marijuana's approach to the issue even though many of its members knew little about the issues surrounding marijuana at the beginning. He said some of the issues surrounding marijuana legalization will probably not be ironed out completely this year. “Not everything needs to be done this session,” he said. Tresidder said he expects every medical marijuana dispensary will also be offering recreational marijuana within three to four years. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 19, 2015 at 5:12 PM » 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... 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