YONCALLA, Ore. — A large-scale criminal marijuana grow operating under the guise of a legal hemp operation has been shut down by law enforcement in Douglas County, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

According to a release from the DCSO, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) executed a search warrant in the 1000-block of Scotts Valley Road Wednesday, September 1, 2021. The warrant stemmed from an investigation into a large-scale black-market marijuana grow operation.

Law enforcement became aware of the operation on tips from concerned citizens.

Yesterday, the Josephine County Sheriff's department raided a ranch in the Illinois valley that is being investigated on charges of illegal marijuana cultivation, involuntary servitude, human trafficking and forced labor.

This raid is part of a larger investigation that began with the death of a man from a different illegal marijuana farm, located on Martin Road in Cave Junction. The man had been driven to the Chevron gas station in Cave Junction in critical condition and left there. The man later died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. Within two days of his death, that Martin Road farm had been harvested, and the workers moved to this ranch, called the Q Bar X Ranch, in the Illinois Valley.

Over drinks with his alleged accomplice Saturday night, an off-duty Portland firefighter decided to “teach a lesson’' to a man who he had learned reportedly burglarized the marijuana dispensary he owned, according to police, prosecutors and state records.

By Oregon Small Business Association

Florida state officials issued a consumer alert warning about hemp grown in Oregon containing rocks, sticks, and other foreign material accompanied by fraudulent certificates of analyses.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which regulates and inspects the cultivation and sale of hemp, issued the warning in July, saying it had received several complaints about the hemp grown in Oregon, one of the nation’s largest hemp producers.

Florida officials are working with federal and Oregon agriculture officials to remedy the problem.

Earlier this year, McGregor announced he was launching a CBD-infused sports recovery line called TIDL Sport.

After breaking his tibia in a fight with Dustin Poirier last month at UFC 264, it appears cannabis has become part of Conor McGregor’s recovery plan.

McGregor has been active on Instagram in recent weeks, posting stories of himself smoking a “big blunt” and claiming that his Oregon-based hemp farm is “the best in the USA.”

“A few hits of this one to unwind and enjoy the sounds and the surrounds. Works a real treat with my recovery, too. Everything in moderation though,” McGregor reportedly said in a recent post, per the Irish Mirror.

This is a rule that prohibits consumers from purchasing an ounce of their favorite strain while also purchasing a few pre-rolls at the same time.

On June 23, 2021, Governor Kate Brown signed SB 408 into law which included a host of important reforms for which Oregon’s cannabis industry has been lobbying for years. The chief backer of SB 408 this session was the Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association (ORCA).

The measure now moves to the House for consideration and, based on the vote in the Senate, is likely to pass unless constituents make their voices heard in opposition.

An increasing number of states are banning Delta-8 THC as federal regulators verify its legality.

Delta-8 THC has become very popular, prompting more jurisdictions to restrict access to the commodity, which is often generated from hemp extracts.

Varying Responses

To limit market access, outright restrictions are being implemented and measures to prohibit the products are being considered.

According to U.S. Hemp Authority President Marielle Weintraub, states will continue to restrict Delta-8 THC and other products like it because the cannabinoid is classified as a restricted narcotic under federal law.

Oregon's cannabis market offers examples of industry pain points, as well as the ability to innovate and mature.

Investors and entrepreneurs may want to be wary of the hyper-competitive market. However, if recent trends hold, Oregon may be turning towards prosperous times.

High times

April 2021 data from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) revealed that the state sold over $105 million in cannabis products in May 2021. In March and April, the state sold approximately $109 million and $110 million, respectively.

The figures mark significant gains for Oregon, which saw sales surpass $70 million per month at the start of the pandemic.

Regulators in Oregon are recalling vaping products that contain marijuana due to out-of-state terpenes.

SALEM — The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) announced that they have recalled several marijuana vaping products that contain out-of-state terpenes and additives imported illegally from California, reports Marijuana Business Daily.