Smoke on the Mountain opened its doors on Friday, Jan. 22, making it the
first marijuana dispensary in the Hoodland community.

An online application for licenses to sell recreational marijuana went live at 6
a.m. Monday, Jan. 4 through the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC)
and the first application was received at 7:15 a.m. As of Jan. 25, the OLCC
had received 96 applicants statewide for retail licenses – including five in
Clackamas County. There were 38 applicants for processor licenses, 228 for
producer and 31 for wholesale businesses – including three for processor, 28
for producer and four for wholesale in Clackamas County.

“Despite the Portland Metro area being gripped by an ice storm the day the
OLCC began accepting applications, the online system didn’t freeze up, and
we’re continuing to receive a steady stream of submissions,” said Mark
Pettinger, spokesperson for the Recreational Marijuana Program in a news
release.

The OLCC projects it will receive approximately 1,200 applications and issue
more than 850 licenses in 2017.

Stewart Schmidt, owner of Smoke on the Mountain, started preparations for
his dispensary in January 2015 when he began leasing the retail space at
23869 E. Arrah Wanna Blvd.

“This has been a year in the making,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt noted the store currently offers 10 strains of marijuana, but plans for
more in the future. All of the marijuana is lab tested for mold, mildew and
pesticides as well as lab packaged and labeled to show the breakdown of
potency, including the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)
content of each different strain.

“It is important to me that people realize this is an upstanding local
business,” Schmidt said, adding the business is registered with the Oregon
Health Authority and is in complete compliance with all state and county
regulations, including 24-hour interior, exterior surveillance, window and door
sensors and storing all of his products in a commercial grade safe during non-
business hours.

Customers must be at least 21 years old and have valid identification to enter
the premises.

Recreational customers may purchase up to seven grams of product per day
(prices range from $10-$14) and will be subject to the temporary marijuana
tax of 25 percent per the Oregon Department of Revenue.

Medicinal customers can purchase up to 42 grams per day tax free.
Cannabis concentrates and tinctures will also be available to medicinal
customers only. Schmidt hopes to include edibles in his inventory in the
future.

“I intend to have only the best quality product I can find represented in my
store,” Schmidt said. “Oregon is world renowned for the marijuana it produces
and I believe that some of the best marijuana is grown right here on the
Mountain. I want my store to be a showcase of what the Mountain has to
offer, as well as the finest from Portland, Eugene and Bend.”

Schmidt added that purchasing marijuana from a legal dispensary offers
customers with a variety of product, quality control, convenience and a
knowledgeable staff.

Smoke on the Mountain will be open Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information,
visit www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/pages/default.aspx.