With the expansion of marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington, and the possibility of legalization in Oregon with the November ballot, new businesses have started to emerge in order to supply the new demand.
New Economy Consulting is one of these businesses.
Geoff Sugerman and University of Orgon alumni Sam Chapman created the consulting company after they worked to lobby for House Bill 3460 in 2013.
“We knew if 3460 passed there would be a great demand for consulting,” Chapman said.
New Economy Consulting works primarily as a consulting company for individuals wanting to open medical marijuana dispensaries. Chapman and Sugerman’s prior knowledge of HB 3460 – a house bill implemented in March 2014 which regulated the sale of medical marijuana within the state – gives the company a “competitive advantage,” Chapman said.
The company takes clients through the process of opening a medical dispensary, in making sure they are complying properly with laws and getting the appropriate licenses.
They also identify viable real estate in different cities and lobby locally in cities too.
The local lobbying is performed within cities like Beaverton, Oregon, a city Chapman was “very impressed with” after working with their city council. Even though the state has regulations on medical marijuana, many cities within the state have put moratoriums on the policies, in order to place their own policies on things like zoning.
“(HB 3460) has been met with a lot of resistance due to a lack of education,” Chapman said.
Oregon has had a lot less time to adjust to the change in the marijuana policy than places like Colorado. After Colorado passed its medical marijuana dispensary regulation, it had three years to adjust before recreational cannabis was instituted.
If Ballot Measure 91 passes on Nov. 4, Oregon will have one and a half years to adjust.
Ballot Measure 91 would make the purchase and possession of eight ounces of marijuana and four plants legal for individuals over the age of 21.
Chapman thinks the measure will pass, but by a small margin.
“The measure takes a pragmatic approach and appeals to both soccer moms and grandparents,” Chapman said. “It keeps (marijuana) out of children’s hands better than the current prohibition.”
UO senior Noelle Jones agrees that the measure passing will help control cannabis in Oregon.
“Partial or medical-only legalization will cause more problems with enforcement and illegal growing, while full legalization will allow people to do what they want, cut back on drug trade across borders and create revenue for the states,” Jones said.
Chapman also asserts that legalization of recreational use will go better in Oregon than it has gone in Colorado and Washington.
“We have all of the best things from both states and none of the negative,” Chapman said.
The measure only allows the state to tax cannabis meaning the state “won’t have overburdens of taxes like Washington has,” Chapman said.
Former UO graduate student and current resident in Colorado, Michael Butler spoke to the Emerald in a previous interview when recreational use was beginning legally in Colorado.
“In terms of legalization in Colorado, I think it’s a step in the right direction. The only real way we stand a chance of getting the federal ban repealed is to have the states fall in line one by one,” Butler said.
The demand for the services of New Economy Consulting continues to grow and is expected to continue to do so if the measure passes.
“For every client we take on, we are denying five,” Chapman said. “If 91 passes demand will go through the roof.”
New Economy Consulting carefully selects its clients. New Economy Consulting looks for professional companies that want to be good neighbors and give back to its communities and values, which are important to Chapman and Sugerman.
New Economy Consulting is also currently keeping its eyes open for interns to aid in its research for viable real estate and policies.
Follow Jeniffer Fleck on Twitter @jenniferfleck