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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 Southern Oregon Historical Society to ask county for $400,000 ... Gov. Brown: 'Hold the line' on more casinos in Oregon ... Purse snatching attempt injures 80-year-old woman at Medford Lowe's ... Southern Oregon Historical Society to ask county for $400,000 ... Gov. Brown: 'Hold the line' on more casinos in Oregon ... Purse snatching attempt injures 80-year-old woman at Medford Lowe's ... OREGON LEGISLATURE  New bill may curb Oregon medical marijuana growing operations Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 28, 2015 at 3:14 PM Updated Apr 28, 2015 at 4:20 PM By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 28, 2015 at 3:14 PM Updated Apr 28, 2015 at 4:20 PM » Social News SALEM — Legislators writing rules for recreational pot in Oregon propose to limit the size of medical marijuana growing operations. Their intention is to stanch a potential alternative source of marijuana that that could undercut the legal — and taxed — recreational market to be established next year. Oregon officials have long said that a large amount of the marijuana ostensibly grown for medical marijuana patients gets diverted to the black market. Growers are allowed to grow up to six plants per patient, often much more than an individual is likely to consume, The Oregonian reports. One effect of the limits could be to encourage growers in the largely unregulated medical marijuana farms to grow for the recreational trade. Growers, dispensary operators and patients in the well-established medical marijuana trade have organized against the legislation, which was unveiled late last week. "It's going to take medicine away from the sickest and most disenfranchised patients," said Alex Rogers, who owns a dispensary in Ashland. But lawmakers have an "over-arching duty" to manage marijuana in a way that won't run afoul of federal guidelines, said Rep. Ann Lininger of Lake Oswego, a leader of the House-Senate marijuana committee. The committee is writing rules to accompany the law Oregonians approved in a vote to legalize recreational marijuana. Under the Oregon initiative, possession of small amounts of marijuana will become legal July 1. Retail sales are not expected to start until late 2016, but legislators have a proposal to allow medical dispensaries temporarily to sell to other adults. The grow limits the committee is considering: Existing medical marijuana growers in most areas would be limited to 96 plants, while newer growers would face a 48-plant limit. Growers in residential areas within cities would have a 24-plant limit if they were in operation before Jan. 1. Newer growers would be limited to 12 plants. Medical marijuana growers would also have to comply with new reporting requirements and could face lower limits if they violate the rules. Existing growers could also face lower limits if they lose patients. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Apr. 28, 2015 at 3:14 PM Updated Apr 28, 2015 at 4:20 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... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501