Oregon legislature

Update: Action due on pot bills

Written February 11th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

Considering the possible action at the legislature, Albany’s city council was wise this week in stepping back from its attempt to outlaw all marijuana, medical and otherwise, from within the city limits. Things may be happening in Salem, and it makes a lot of sense for any city to await the outcome before jumping into the […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: medical marijuana, Oregon legislature, Oregon marijuana bills, Senate Judiciary Committee

Albany backs off marijuana-store ban

Written February 10th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

Whatever happens with medical-marijuana dispensaries in Oregon, Albany won’t be in the forefront of trying to keep them out, at least for now. The city council Monday voted 4-2 to withdraw its application to change the city development code to prevent marijuana stores from getting started.

Posted in: News
Tags: Albany City Council, Albany Planning Commission, marijuana dispensaries, Oregon legislature

Ditch ’40-40-20;’ it’s misguided

Written February 2nd, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

It’s time to repeal or just ignore Oregon’s so-called 40-40-20 goal, which isn’t doing anything for anybody except the higher education establishment. But the president of Oregon State, among others, thinks it’s still a great idea.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: 40-40-20, Oregon legislature, Oregon public education, Oregon State University

Legislation could wait

Written January 27th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

The most contentious issues facing the coming legislative session confirm the old-fashioned view that annual meetings of the Oregon Legislative Assembly were not necessary after all. (And no, this has nothing to do with leaf blowers and whether it’s a good idea to use them to raise clouds of dust on a city street.)

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: background checks, Columbia River Crossing, Cover Oregon, gun registration, marijuana, Oregon legislature

Don’t backtrack on dispensary law

Written January 23rd, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

The illegal trade in marijuana flourishes in Oregon, as shown by the steady pace of arrests for selling, transporting or possessing quantities of weed. The legislature tried to cut into at least part of that business but is getting push-back from local governments unmoved — despite a half century of experience — by the failure […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Bill Hansell, marijuana, Oregon legislature, Rod Monroe

Hot air precedes legislature

Written January 21st, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

The Oregon legislature will convene on Feb. 3 and stay in Salem for a month whether anybody wants it to or not. So what can we expect? If you believe the “agendas” posted by the Democrats who rule the House and Senate, nothing but good things.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Democratic agendas, February 2014 session, Oregon legislature

Albany council talks pot, again

Written January 7th, 2014 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 4 responses.

Marijuana was on the minds of the Albany City Council again Monday. I’m speaking figuratively, of course. The mayor and five councilors (Bill Coburn was away) were nothing if not sober at Monday’s work session, where they spent nearly an hour hashing over what the city government might do come March, when the state expects […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany City Council, marijuana dispensaries, medical marijuana, Oregon legislature