Pot Prices Collapse! Marijuana Speech #28

28th speech in this series to the Josephine County Commissioners, 5-25-2011 

Dennis Roler this week editorialized in the Daily Courier, “Police and marijuana supporters are duelling over proposed tighter regulations in Salem, but they are missing the point.”

HB 3664 is apparently the last of two dozen such bills introduced this year that is still alive; it would tighten eligibility for cards and give police more access to OMMP records—too much access for Mr. Roler.  He thinks that the “old” program of growing one’s own should be scrapped in favour of state-grown pot sold in state-owned dispensaries, which would bring the collapsing prices for pot in our in-state black market back with a roar.

One might wonder why, after so many years, so many legislators introduced so many bills to do something to tighten up OMMP, and their fellows threw cold water on them.  Wonder no longer; the answer is in those collapsing prices.  A lot of people who have formerly made a living off their risky behavior are hurting now that it is not so risky and a lot of other people have gotten into the act. 

Under OMMP the prices have fluctuated from a low right after harvest, back to high prices before harvest.  A brave grower could hold on to the bulk of his crop until prices recovered and still make good money.  But that price recovery point has gotten later every year, and this year, they have not yet recovered.

Have no doubt that many of these braver growers talk to their legislators, probably posing as rabid anti-pot-people for protective coloration.  But marijuana consumers also talk to their lawmakers, and more legislators appear to support consumers than support black marketers.  They know that tightening up eligibility for medical marijuana and making it more dangerous to grow can only revive the black market and make life harder for consumers of weed.

Now that people are getting used to the idea that they can’t make a lot of money off a few plants anymore and young pot dealers are looking for real jobs, it is time to put pot on the same footing as alcohol and pass the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act.  That will allow a few licensed farmers to make a living off of marijuana, allow any of us to grow our own without license, and drive a stake through the heart of the black market in marijuana.  This Board should ask the legislature to pass it now, and not wait for the People to pass it next year.  There’s still time in this session; they can gut and stuff HB 3664.

Rycke Brown, Natural Gardener         541-955-9040    rycke@gardener.com