Marijuana testing rules revised, first crowdfunded building slated for Oregon and Portland already spending its housing bond.
1. Oregon revises marijuana testing rules
The Oregon Health Authority released temporary rules to provide relief for producers and processors who blame testing requirements for creating a product backlog, the Oregonian reports. The new rules allow producers to test multiple strains in a single batch, rather than individual testing, and eased potency testing requirements.
2. Portland building first in nation to use crowdfunded financing
The Fair-Haired Dumbbell building, designed by Guerrilla Development, was funded thanks to a 2012 bill: the Jumpstart Business Start-Ups Act, OPB reports. Unlike Kickstarter or other crowdfunding programs, investors get ownership of the building in exchange for their contribution. However, only $1.5 million of the Dumbbell’s $16.5 million price tag was crowdsourced.
3. Portland decides how to spend part of $258m housing bond
The election results for Portland’s affordable housing bond have yet to be certified, but city officials have already outlined how to spend $51 million of the bond, the Oregonian reports. The City Council will review the proposal to purchase a 263-unit apartment complex in Northeast next week.
4. Oregon duo pushes for voter proof of citizenship
Two Republican representatives have filed a proposed amendment to Oregon’s constitution, requiring voters to prove they are U.S. citizens, the Bend Bulletin reports. At this time, voters check a box online during registration to verify their citizenship status. A similar law in Kansas was struck down earlier this year by a federal court.
5. Salem looks to join bike share bandwagon
A Salem nonprofit, Osborne Adventures, is considering a partnership with bike-sharing company Zagster, the Statesman Journal reports. If the program gets off the ground, bike stations would line the downtown and waterfront areas in Oregon’s capital. Zagster already operates in Bend and Corvallis.
6. Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit is today
Digital News Editor @KatySword is at the @OreBusinessPlan #OLSummit today. Follow us for live coverage of the conference. pic.twitter.com/U8hAlXONzd
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) December 5, 2016
