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MARIJUANA Pot businesses have eyes on Medford City Council looks at lifting moratorium on marijuana shops By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2015 @ 5:23 pm By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2015 @ 5:23 pm » 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" --> Medford has attracted national attention from entrepreneurs who are anxious to open pot businesses, butPot business discover the city hasn’t lifted a permanent moratorium on marijuana shops. “I get three to five calls a week from people who want to do business here,” said Kevin McConnell, deputy city attorney. McConnell said he gets questions from as far away as Florida from people interested in opening retail and processing facilities because Medford sits in the middle of Oregon’s main growing area, which has an international reputation for producing high-grade marijuana. The City Council on Thursday signaled that it might lift the moratorium in the next few months, opening the door for a wide variety of pot business, including labs, production facilities and processing factories that use heat and other extraction methods to produce marijuana products. The council considered a number of code changes that would allow different kinds of marijuana businesses throughout the city, but only in certain commercial and industrial zoned areas. Medford voters were almost evenly split when they voted last November for Ballot Measure 91, which legalized recreational marijuana on July 1. Councilor Daniel Bunn said he thinks the council is moving toward lifting the moratorium, and he said he liked the changes proposed by the planning department.  "For a community that is split 50/50, this is a way to move forward," he said. "Does that mean we are really excited about it? No. We don't have the perfect solution." McConnell said the vacant auto dealerships on Central Avenue might be one possible location for marijuana production facilities. Even though many councilors indicated some support for lifting the moratorium, others did not. “I will vote ‘no’ for this,” Councilor Tim Jackle said in the Thursday meeting. Councilor Chris Corcoran said he wondered if the city should ask voters if they want to ban pot sales. Councilor Kevin Stine said the council couldn’t initiate that kind of ballot measure, noting Oregon laws require a ban to be initiated by a citizen petition. Councilor Clay Bearnson, who has been pushing to lift the pot ban, noted, "We allow businesses that permit alcohol consumption." Another approach would be a ballot measure asking voters if the city should continue not issuing business licenses to pot shops, Bunn said. “You basically get the same question in front of the voters,” he said. Jim Huber, Medford planning director, presented a list of suggested changes that would allow marijuana businesses in certain areas of the city. The Medford Planning Commission will hold public hearings to discuss the proposed changes. Under state law, there are six kinds of marijuana businesses that will be regulated: producers, processors, wholesale, laboratories, dispensaries and retail. Huber said the proposal the Planning Commission is working on is based on earlier discussions with the council. Laboratories, which test marijuana and have only limited amounts of pot on hand, would be allowed in the same areas as dispensaries and retail operations as well as in light industrial zones. Production, processing and wholesale pot businesses would be allowed in industrial areas. Processors using high-heat extraction methods would be allowed only in heavy industrial districts. Marijuana business would have to conduct all their operations indoors and out of public view. Offensive odors from the businesses would have to be contained under the proposed code change. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm .         By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2015 @ 5:23 pm » 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 Mobile Site 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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