Hey, folks!

As you’ve heard, Sue Vorenberg has moved on to “greener” pastures. This week, she’s starting a sweet new gig as the social media and web development manager for Main Street Marijuana.

Sue launched Cannabis Chronicles and she did an excellent job of covering the local marijuana culture and business scene. So, we’ll miss her.

Anyway, before she left, Sue was kind enough to prep me to take over the blog. So, just thought I’d introduce myself.

I have big shoes to fill, but I’ll do my best. For those who miss Sue, no worries. She’ll show up in some of my stories, and she’ll still be a contributor on this site. Sue also recently launched her own personal blog about joining the industry. Check it out when you get a chance.

You’ve probably seen me on here a few times before. As the small cities reporter at The Columbian, I’ve written some stories about pot shops outside Vancouver and the difficult decisions Clark County’s small cities have faced in either banning or opening their doors to the new legal cannabis industry. I’ve also pitched in from time to time on state-level pot stories, and of course, I’ve covered the development of the nation’s first government-owned pot shop way out in North Bonneville.

Some of the most interesting things in the recreational marijuana industry are happening in Southwest Washington. Vancouver’s home to two of the biggest pot shops in the state: Main Street and New Vansterdam. Soon, the city will get its sixth pot shop, and the doors could eventually open for more stores to pop up around the rest of the county. Love it or hate it, it’s all pretty fascinating to watch.

Big changes are on the horizon this year, as Oregon prepares to begin launching its own legal marijuana industry and lawmakers in Olympia grapple with how to modify Washington’s burdensome pot tax system. Even the Liquor Control Board is changing. Soon, the agency will have a new name and it’ll begin the licensing process for medical stores.

Last week, the LCB launched a new “Weekly Marijuana Report.” It’s a pretty basic webpage full of broad industry-wide data, like sales and production stats and how many many producer, processor and retail licenses have been issued. The reports don’t breakdown local sales and production figures, but they’re a strong indication that the industry is growing statewide.

Anyway, feel free to drop me a line anytime. Story ideas and feedback are always welcome, and I’d love to hear from any of you.

Cheers!

– Justin Runquist