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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 Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Medford MLK Jr. celebration: "Progress is not inevitable" Talent Elementary students learn to tinker Effort underway to find photos of those who died in Vietnam, including 35 from Jackson County Restaurant Inspections Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Emergency Services Former youth pastor arrested on burglary, privacy invasion Emergency services Attorney general's decision would limit federal sharing of asset forfeitures Politics and Elections Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post Education Talent Elementary students learn to tinker Local elementary and middle school students qualify for state chess championships Unfair labor complaint against Medford School District resolved Arsonist attempts to burn down building at Jackson Elementary Not as ready as they should be Environment Grant will help restore "legacy" oak habitat south of Ashland New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon OR-7 now officially the leader of his pack Ashland trails up for changes Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources State News Oregon lawmakers start drafting pot bills 12 injured in massive I-84 crash in eastern Oregon Oregon man reveled in Cuba trip Dancers: Strip club owes us wages 'Wild' author wows overflow crowd Nation - World Obituaries Harold Ray Fisher Louise K. 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Talent Elementary students learn to tinker ... Our View: Oregon students need job skills training ... Medford MLK Jr. celebration: "Progress is not inevitable" ... Talent Elementary students learn to tinker ... Our View: Oregon students need job skills training ... OREGON POLITICS Oregon lawmakers start drafting pot bills Marketing, taxes, zoning rules are major issues Comment By Steven Dubois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Jan. 18, 2015 @ 2:00 am By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Jan. 18, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Social News PORTLAND — Oregon voters have spoken on marijuana legalization and now it's time for legislators to have their say. Though the legislative session starts in February, lawmakers submitted more than a dozen bills last week dealing with marijuana. Many more are anticipated in the coming weeks as the state tries to design a retail market and regulatory system that avoids problems seen in Washington and Colorado, the first states to allow recreational pot use. Under Measure 91, Oregonians starting in July can possess up to eight ounces of marijuana at home. Retail sales start sometime in 2016 and will be regulated by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. In Washington, where retailers began selling the drug in July, high tax rates and an initial supply shortage sent prices to more than three times what people pay on the black market. In Colorado, there have been several cases of people overdosing on high-concentration edibles that look the same as candy and cookies. The Oregon Legislature has established a joint committee on marijuana (yes, they've heard the jokes) to help put Measure 91 into practice. Hot topics figure to include zoning rules for retailers, whether to allow local taxes on top of state taxes and how to keep pot candy away from kids. "It's a big job because there are so elements to it," said state Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, committee co-chair. "There's the regulation, the taxation, the issue of doing of everything we can to shut down the illegal market; then there's medical marijuana. All these issues are converging and we'll just have to deal with all of them." The tax issue might be the thorniest and could end up in the court system. The measure approved by voters in November gives the state sole authority to tax marijuana, charging growers at a rate of $35 per ounce of bud, $10 an ounce of leaves and $5 for each immature plant. Many cities, however, preemptively approved sales taxes on pot — either to make money or discourage retailers from doing business there. Because the measure is not a constitutional amendment, the Legislature has the power to make changes and OK local taxes. But if those taxes boost prices too much, Oregon risks losing sales to street dealers and a commercial advantage over neighboring Washington state. "I don't think anybody thinks that we want to follow Washington's course and have taxation so high that the black market becomes more attractive," Burdick said. Another way Oregon wants to differentiate itself from Washington is adequate supply. Oregon growers already provide pot to medical marijuana dispensaries. House Bill 2676, sponsored by state Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, directs the OLCC to register existing production sites, easing the way for that supply to enter the retail market for recreational use. The bill also provides for marijuana testing through the existing laboratory accreditation program. On edibles, a battle might emerge over potency and whether to sell them at all. And, if sold, how to keep them away from children. "We don't want to fall victim to the 'Joe Camel' kind of syndrome in terms of advertising and marketing," said Geoff Sugerman, a lobbyist for the marijuana industry. "But at the same time there is a value, especially on the medical side, to edible products and I don't think we should just throw them out altogether." Several early bills focus on the safety of children, including: — Senate Bill 145: Requires medical marijuana facilities and marijuana retailers to post warnings about the effects of pot on pregnant women. — Senate Bill 162: Prohibits marijuana grow sites and licensed producers, processors and sellers from being located within 1,000 feet of a school. Another, House Bill 2014, prevents pot sellers from being located within a mile of a school. — House Bill 2781: Forbids daycare providers from receiving state funds if they have medical marijuana cards. State Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, sponsored the Senate school zone bill. He said kids already have easy access tomarijuana, and he doesn't want it to get even easier. When asked for his other concerns with legalized pot, he joked: "Do you have two days?" By Steven Dubois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Jan. 18, 2015 @ 2:00 am » 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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