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Medical marijuana dispensaries looking to sell pot to all adults this fall will need to pay the city of Portland at least $2,500 by Dec. 1, according to city documents released today.
Retail pot stores seeking to open next year must pay the city $3,750, the documents show.
That's a big jump from the $1,500 price tag discussed by city officials this summer—and as much as 37 times what a bar or pub pays the city for a liquor license.
The city is giving medical dispensaries extra time to apply. They can start selling to all adults Oct. 1, but don't need to submit a license application until Dec. 1.
But it appears city officials are springing another huge change on medical dispensaries. The dispensaries will have to pay $2,500 to keep operating in Portland, whether or not they plan to sell recreational weed, says Victor Salinas, Portland's marijuana policy program coordinator.
It's still unclear from documents and interviews which pay scale will be required for dispensaries selling to all adults this fall: the retail cost of $3,750, or the dispensary cost of $2,500.
The dollar amounts combine application and licensing fees, which, along with the rest of the city's proposed marijuana rules, will be discussed by the City Council on Sept. 16.
The Portland Mercury first reported the fee scale this afternoon.
Salinas tells WW that the rules it makes for dispensaries starting Oct. 1 will continue for retail shops that open in 2016. No special rules are being made for the temporary sale.
The fees, he said, will be used to cover the costs of running the marijuana licensing program.
The Oct. 1 launch of retail sales comes thanks to legislation signed this summer by Oregon governor Kate Brown.
Willamette Week