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1 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 Jacksonville requests extension on reservoir dam-notching permit Sams Valley residents rally against plan to spread treated human waste Since You Asked: Why no notice about Centennial Golf Course plans? Emergency services, March 14 Public meetings for March 16-20 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 14 Judge denies motion to suppress evidence in Rogue River serial murder case Medford man gets 4 years for burglaries Heroin at root of sad tale of crime and death in Grants Pass IRS phone scam hits Medford area hard Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Education St. Mary's School buys campus from parish for $6.5 million Medford School District calls foul on teachers union Supporters rally to back beleaguered principal St. Mary's reaches out to China Inert grenade spurred White Mountain Middle School evacuation Environment Jacksonville requests extension on reservoir dam-notching permit Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees Low snow closes Mt. Ashland bunny hill chairlift DEQ issues fines over illegal White City dumping site Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer State News Gov. Kate Brown to declare drought emergency in Lake, Malheur counties Lebanon High School sharpshooters aim for national titles Man languishes in Oregon jail, hasn't commit a crime Judge sides with Oregon, sends Oracle case to state court Strippers make case to Oregon legislators for work improvements Nation - World Obituaries Lester Olufsen Death Notices Shiela Marie Death Notices Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories The Young and the Fearless Blazers deal Pistons ninth straight loss No. 11 Irish upset No. 2 Blue Devils Spartans victorious in playoff opener Setzer sparks Crater to state trophy Varsity 541 College Sports The Young and the Fearless No. 11 Irish upset No. 2 Blue Devils SOU wins one of two in CCC openers Mariota makes a low-key homecoming West's career day moves Raiders into Elite Eight Pro Sports Blazers deal Pistons ninth straight loss Spartans victorious in playoff opener Vikings acquire receiver Mike Wallace De Jonge leads at crowded Valspar Irving erupts for 57 in Cavs' triumph Community Sports Business Latest Stories Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Blog: Are You Superstitious? East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February Jackson County jobless rate falls to 7.7 percent Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Letters to the Editor, March 14 Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Matthew T. Mangino: Leniency or smart punishment strategy Editorials Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Our View: Medford council shouldn't over-regulate backyard pot gardens Our View: Atkins a safe choice for secretary of state Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 14 Letters to the Editor, March 13 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 10 Columns Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US George Will: The Export-Import Bank's tenacious grip Dana Milbank: Republicans set up a breakaway nation Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Lifestyle Latest stories Drawing for youth turkey hunts March 31 Hunting's Second Season Community blog: Have a ball at this weekend's cheese festival Get Out calendar for March 13 Community blog: Denial is Not a River in Egypt Food Community blog: Have a ball at this weekend's cheese festival Community blog: Fewer and fewer of us eschew brilliant beets Season Stepp: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with authentic Irish recipes Page H. Onorato: The 10 commandments for the Southern cook Page H. Onorato: Try out this hot stuff in your kitchen on a cold night Home and Garden Using universal design Dear Monty: Successful rezoning property requires a plan Garden Cameos: Time to give your garden a new look Carol Link: Eradicate weeds completely, use edgers to help keep thrift on slope Paul Rogers: Daylight Saving, full moon hopeful signs for spring Health Community blog: Denial is Not a River in Egypt Health Watch: Living smart to protect your heart Community blog: Can Twentysomething Depression Be�Healed? Dr. Murray Feingold: What’s your excuse for being late? Community blog: The Future is Now Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Milestones and Achievements Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville City-rock band Shotgun Wedding performs at the Craterian Theater in Medford Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Theater Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Music Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Rogue Valley Chorale presents 'A Festival of Choirs' at the Craterian Theatre SOU's Chamber and Concert choirs present 'Songs of Passion' City-rock band Shotgun Wedding performs at the Craterian Theater in Medford Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Dining Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties ... Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana ... Judge denies motion to suppress evidence in Rogue River serial murder case ... Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties ... Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana ... Judge denies motion to suppress evidence in Rogue River serial murder case ... SPECIAL ELECTION Jackson County commissioner says pot tax levels playing field Comment By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 5:49 PM Updated Mar 11, 2015 at 6:06 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 5:49 PM Updated Mar 11, 2015 at 6:06 PM » Social News The chairman of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners says a ballot measure passed Tuesday allowing the county to tax marijuana sales is necessary to correct imbalances created by Measure 91. Measure 15-133, which allows the county to impose up to a 25-percent tax on recreational and medical marijuana sales, passed with 63 percent of the vote, or 29,042 to 17,062. While local taxation has been criticized by some marijuana advocates who say it could encourage the black market Measure 91 is intended to discourage, Commissioner Doug Breidenthal says the measure has been wrongly interpreted as an anti-marijuana move. "This is a 30-point spread — this is what they call a landslide," he says. "Our charter is a privilege to the voters because they get to decide themselves what they're going to be subject to with taxation." Breidenthal points out that Medford, Ashland, Gold Hill and Central Point passed their own local taxes on marijuana without a vote by residents.  Measure 15-133 also taxes medical marijuana, which isn't taxed at the state level. Breidenthal says members of the medical marijuana industry told them they weren't opposed to some taxation if it could provide a framework for regulating the quality of their product, complaining that some of their patients were being sold low-quality medicine. He says there are issues with funding marijuana regulatory programs from other revenue streams that make local taxation the only option.  There's also the question of the state law's tax structure, which Breidenthal says doesn't provide enough for small communities. "After 36 months, the structure changes, and then it's divvied out to the local governments based on the number of dispensaries within the community," he says. He says that could disenfranchise Southern Oregon, which grows much of the state's marijuana but has relatively few retail dispensaries. Breidenthal says the commissioners need more time before they're ready to decide on countywide tax rates or how revenues will be distributed, but he did point out that commissioners made the tax retroactive to Dec. 1, 2014. "Essentially, the tax could be assessed starting April 1, 2015," he says. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471, or by email at [email protected]. Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty. By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 11, 2015 at 5:49 PM Updated Mar 11, 2015 at 6:06 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. 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. 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