More jurisdictions are opting out of legal marijuana laws; some workers have formed a union and leaders from the state lobbying the federal government.
BY JACOB PALMER | DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
More than half a month into legal sales, there are still several issues that need to be resolved regarding marijuana in Oregon.
More jurisdictions are opting out of legal marijuana laws; some workers have formed a union and leaders from the state are lobbying the federal government.
Grant Falls, Klamath Falls and Marion County have brought the list of local governments banning sales to 43.
Grants Pass and Marion County will put the question to voters, as will the city of Fairview, which becomes the jurisdiction closest to Portland to consider the ban.
(SOURCE: Portland Business Journal)
Workers at Hi Cannabis in Portland and West Salem Cannabis have joined the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Oregon. The union created a “Cannabis Workers Rising” division that it expects will soon have thousands of members.
“We have working relationships with community leaders,” [Local 367 Communications Director Nathe] Lawver said. “We’re able to introduce these workers to them and really put a human face to the cannabis business.”
The UFCW claims to represent about 3,000 workers in the medical and recreational marijuana industry in states across the country.
(SOURCE: OPB)
Meanwhile, 25 cannabis entrepreneurs in the Oregon Cannabis Association recently lobbied Congress in Washington, D.C.
They are fighting for change in the federal tax code to include marijuana businesses. They also want banks and credit unions to be allowed to back pot operations.
Oregon’s cannabis industry is only weeks into legal sales of recreational marijuana, but business owners are already reporting financing problems. Banks serving cannabis businesses are subject to lose their FDIC protection or be open to prosecution because cannabis is still illegal under federal law.
The result is that Oregon cannabis businesses often operate on a cash-only basis and don’t have access to financial services and tax deductions like other industries.
(SOURCE: Statesman Journal)
RELATED NEWS: Pot sales reach $11 million in first week; Tax burden for pot business owners could negate profits; Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries enjoy first day of legal recreational sales; 5 marijuana business people share strategy ahead of recreational sales rollout
