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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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... CITY COUNCIL Medford approves marijuana dispensaries Council rejects recreational sales, but may ask voters to weigh in Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 15, 2015 at 5:03 PM Updated Oct 15, 2015 at 9:35 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 15, 2015 at 5:03 PM Updated Oct 15, 2015 at 9:35 PM » Social News Under threat of a veto by Mayor Gary Wheeler, Medford City Council approved medical marijuana dispensaries Thursday but rejected recreational sales of pot. The council may send the question of retail sales to the voters of Medford in November 2016. Voters in Medford were almost evenly split over Ballot Measure 91, approved last November to legalize marijuana for anyone 21 or older. The council amended an earlier ordinance to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to receive a business license by Dec. 1, and also allow laboratories, wholesalers and processors to handle both recreational or medical cannabis. "It is about respecting what the voters said," Councilor Clay Bearnson said. "Let's put an end to the black market and put an end to illicit sales. Bearnson, who has applied for a state license to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Medford, made an impassioned speech to the council imploring it to pass the ordinance on its second reading and to put aside personal bias toward cannabis. "People have been lied to for decades about the effects of marijuana," he said. "People will vilify marijuana while they suck down a cocktail." Bearnson said the community has far more problems dealing with alcohol than with marijuana. The council approved the revised ordinance that allowed dispensaries but not recreational sales of pot on a 7-1 vote, with Councilor Tim Jackle opposing. Wheeler said he wasn't sure whether he would veto the ordinance in the next 10 days. "I haven't had enough time to think about this," he said. In his 10th year as mayor, Wheeler has never exercised his veto authority, but this issue has bothered him. "It's not the community I envisioned," Wheeler. "I don't think it really does ensure a safer community." City Attorney Lori Cooper confirmed the mayor has the right to veto a council-approved ordinance. The veto can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the council, or six votes out of eight if all the councilors are present. Councilor Eli Matthews said the issue of legalization of marijuana has divided this community. "I would not be opposed to taking this to the voters," he said. The council instructed city staff to prepare something for the November 2016 election that would ask Medford voters whether they want recreational cannabis sales. If the mayor vetoes the ordinance passed Thursday, and council does not override the veto, the city could ask voters whether they want both recreational and medical marijuana sales. Councilor Dick Gordon said he and other councilors have a fear of the unknown about the legalization of marijuana. "I'm not ready to take the leap to retail," he said. Gordon made the motion to exclude retail sales from the ordinance. However, he said, "I'm sold on medical marijuana." Councilor Chris Corcoran said, "I will support medical marijuana. I will not support retail marijuana." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 15, 2015 at 5:03 PM Updated Oct 15, 2015 at 9:35 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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