Smoke on the Mountain is a new business in the Hoodland community. At this
point Smoke currently offers cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and marijuana pipes
and accessories.

The storefront is located at the corner of Arrah Wanna Blvd. and Hwy. 26.
Sole proprietor, Stewart Schmidt, has big plans for the future which go well
beyond the current inventory. “I do not want to be misleading; it is my plan to
become a medicinal and recreational marijuana dispensary,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt opened Smoke on the Mountain on July 2.

“The response from the community has been overwhelmingly warm and
receptive”, he said. “I had regular customers within the first week of being
open.”

After working for Northwest Natural for 10 years Schmidt knew he wanted to
be in business for himself. While commuting from West Linn to Bend where
his daughter lives, Schmidt saw an opportunity to start a business in
Welches.

One aspect that sets Smoke apart from the local competition is not only its
low pricing on tobacco products but also allowing customers to place special
orders for the store to carry in stock.

Schmidt noted that he is happy to serve the local community and the majority
of his business has been local residents and via word of mouth.

Two focal points of Smoke’s business are to do everything legally and to use
local artisans for the glass and wood work of products sold in the store.

“Doing everything by the law is of extreme importance,” Schmidt said. This
includes checking identification of customers, product tracking and security.
Schmidt currently holds a medicinal marijuana dispensary license issued by
the Oregon Health Authority. He plans to apply for a recreational wholesaler’s
license for recreational marijuana in January 2016 when applications are being
accepted.

According to Oregon.gov retail recreational marijuana stores will most likely
be able to open sometime in the third quarter of 2016. Smoke looks forward
to the opportunity to expand its business during that time.