This article originally appeared in the February 2018 issue of Cannabis Dispensary. To subscribe, click here.
Moratorium is a scary word for cannabis business owners. When a city or county enforces a ban on cannabis cultivation or sales (or both), it can swiftly put an end to existing businesses and halt industry expansion, even in state-legal markets. But what if a business owner could work around a moratorium to achieve his goals? Todd Theiss, the co-owner of Redbarn Dispensary in Douglas County, Ore., ventured to find out.
As a veteran of the real estate industry with an established presence in the county, Theiss was looking in 2014 to diversify his business portfolio. He owned a quarter-acre property at the edge of Tri-City’s border on Old North Pacific Highway, just off Interstate 5. (Theiss’ wife, Serena, operates a farmers market vegetable stand there.) Logistically, it was perfect for a retail storefront thanks to its easy access from the freeway and lots of room for potential expansion. It also met the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s (OLCC) requirements for a cannabis business. But Tri-City’s temporary ban on dispensaries presented a major roadblock.
However, Myrtle Creek, the neighboring city, had opted in to host cannabis businesses. Theiss, well-versed in zoning laws from his real estate background, knew just what to do. He petitioned Myrtle Creek to voluntarily annex his property from Tri-City in late 2014. Theiss’ plan was to rezone the property for commercial use to make it a viable fit for a medical and recreational dispensary with a Myrtle Creek address.
“It was difficult,” Theiss says. “We had to go through several public comment periods where all the neighbors got to weigh in if they chose to.” According to Theiss, community members came forward to express their support, but the project in Myrtle Creek’s small, agricultural and conservative town was still met with some opposition.
To read the full article in Cannabis Dispensary's February 2018 issue, click here.
Top photo courtesy of Redbarn Dispensary
