Medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon are rallying to support the measure on the November ballot that would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana use by adults in the state. Lane County dispensaries are sending representatives north to a kick-off event for the group Dispensaries for Measure 91 at 5:30 pm Thursday, Aug. 28, at Opal 28, 510 NE 28th Ave. in Portland. See voteyeson91.com to get involved. Why are dispensaries supporting “competition” from legalized pot? We figure it’s because established medical pot operations are ready and eager to expand into non-medical pot, plus Measure 91 specifically supports the continuation of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. OMMP patients will continue to pay their annual fees but will not pay the taxes that will be imposed on non-OMMP patients. Meanwhile, some 300 medical marijuana growers gathered in Portland Aug. 22 to talk about lobbying the Legislature for regulations and protections for their farming. Growers are concerned about ambiguous laws that make them vulnerable to being shut down and having their equipment and medicine confiscated.
The annual Labor Day Picnic in celebration and support of unions will be from 1 to 4 pm Monday, Labor Day, at Lively Park behind SPLASH at 6100 Thurston Rd. in Springfield. The event is hosted by Lane County Central Labor Council and its affiliated organizations and will feature speeches by Reps. John Lively and Phil Barnhart and Sens. Lee Beyer and Floyd Prozanski. Barbeque foods will be provided but guests are asked to bring side dishes. Call 736-9041 or email pineojensen@gmail.com.
Mountain Rose Herbs is planning its next event in the Free Herbalism Project with a free evening of herbal education from 5 to 9 pm Friday, Aug. 29, at Mount Pisgah Arboretum. One of the speakers will be Michigan herbalist Jim McDonald talking on “Aphrodisiacs and Energetics.” Botanist Heron Brae will talk on “Wild Plants for Food and Medicine in the Seasonal Cycles.” See mountainroseherbs.com or call (800) 879-3337, ext. 183.
Eugene Sudbury School was burglarized the night of Aug. 24 and about $5,000 worth of art supplies, computer equipment, books, toys and games were stolen. A pressure washer was also taken. Sudbury is an independent K-12 alternative school at 2370 Parliament St. in southwest Eugene. “It’s such a devastating loss to our program to have some of these unique educational resources taken,” said Director Demian Schwartz in a press release. “Especially in that we serve some really high-needs students and low-income families who only thrive in our setting.” An account has been set up at gofundme.com/EugeneSudbury to try to replace the stolen items before the students return for school next week.
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) of Eugene has changed its name to Lane Youth Soccer Association (LYSA), breaking away from the California-based AYSO after 47 years. Sounds like the Eugene group was feeling overly restricted. No word on whether the Springfield AYSO will also go independent. “In reality, nothing on the field has changed,” says Joel Andersen of LYSA in a prepared statement. The new website for the group is laneyouthsoccer.org and Andersen can be reached at 521-8100.
Arriving By Bike hosts its fifth annual Cycling Celebration from 1 to 4 pm Saturday, Aug. 30, at 2705 Willamette. Falling Sky Brewing will provide the new Mash Transit Ale created by Falling Sky to celebrate LTD’s national award for “Best Transit District.” Pedal Powered Music will provide the music. Other businesses participating include Cascadian Courier Collective, J-Tea bike cart, Grey Matter Jugglers, Open Air Cinema and Vanilla Jill’s Frozen Yogurt bike cart. Contact Paul Moore at 954-3843 or paul@arrivingbybike.com.
A presentation on Oregon public benefit companies by Ed Gerdes, vice president and general counsel at Cafe Yumm! will be at the Greenlane Sustainable Business Network’s monthly meeting at 11:30 am Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Eugene Hilton. Lunch available for purchase.
A free workshop titled “Organize to Optimize Your Small Business” will be at 6 pm Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Eugene Public Library. Productivity consultant Jan Lehman will share practical ways to optimize time, space and effort. Sponsored by LCC Small Business Development Center and SCORE. Call 682-5450.