One Factor in Oregon's Dropping Jobless Rate? Legal Weed

You can measure the effects by counting the marijuana worker permits.

(Urban Pharmacy, Emily Joan Greene)
By Nigel Jaquiss

As the Oregon unemployment rates drops below 4 percent for the first time in state history, weed keeps growing as a job sector.

One way to measure that: the thousands who are seeking the $100 license required to work in the industry.

At least 16,387 people have applied for marijuana worker permits with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

The number of applicants is nearly four times the number of people who work for the Oregon Department of Corrections.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office.

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