PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Pot is big business. In just a week, Oregon retailers sold more than $11 million of marijuana, and on Saturday hundreds flocked to the Oregon Hemp Convention to find out more.

The issue of legal, safe access for those who want to sell and use marijuana was one of the main topics. Russ Belville of Portland NORML said one of the biggest concerns in the state is the rights of consumers and the disparity in availability between the east and west sides of the state.

In Portland, there are at least 100 regulated outlets to legally buy pot. But customers who live in Ontario, Oregon are at least 4 hours away from a legal shop.

It’s a question worth either $66 million or about $7, depending on the way you look at it: Should the state be allowed to keep marijuana taxes?

Proposition BB, the only statewide ballot initiative to be decided Nov. 3, asks voters to let the state keep the $66 million in marijuana taxes. According to the state, it would spend about $40 million of that on school construction. Another $12 million would go to various social programs, including marijuana education and prevention, bullying and drop-out prevention programs and youth mentoring services.

The state-of-the-art marijuana growing operation with its 65 strains of plants is in its infancy as finishing touches are being put on the building where it will take about 14 weeks to grow about 80 pounds of pot. That's how much the tribe hopes to sell weekly at its smoking lounge and entertainment resort just south of their casino that is noting its 25th year of operation this month.

The resort has been about a year in the making, as the tribal council which leads the tribe of 280 adults and 110 children on the reservation voted 5-1 late last year to pursue the resort idea.

Colorado’s first week of sales reached $5 million while Washington didn’t hit $2 million until after the first month. Those dispensaries can sell recreational products until December. 31, 2016, at which point all recreational sales will fall under the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s regulations and will take place at OLCC-licensed retail stores.

Maybe it used to, but these days marijuana retailers face more competition than ever.

During the Measure 91 campaign, economic firm EcoNorthwest projected that the state would bring in .5 million in new revenue the first year while the state of Oregon projected a more modest $9 of net revenue. Washington had just four, and a year later, still has fewer than Oregon.

If a public referendum on does pass 13 months from now legalizing recreational pot in California, the bills enacted this week could help smooth the state's transition to legalization, and being prepared to roll out retail sales in an orderly manner could pay very real dividends.

The owner of Main Street Marijuana in Vancouver says he's not anxious about competition from Oregon's new law, despite taking a 10 percent hit in sales last week. Those dispensaries can sell recreational products until December. 31, 2016, at which point all recreational sales will fall under the Oregon Liquor Control Commission's regulations and will take place at OLCC-licensed retail stores.

Prohibition builds empires of criminals and outlaws the world's most ancient medicine, writes Labour MP Paul Flynn

DENVER - People spent more than $100 million dollars on marijuana in one month in Colorado.

That's a new record high. And if the trend continues, sales will set another new record next month, and the month after that, and on and on.

In August, recreational marijuana sales totaled $59.2 million and medical marijuana sales came in at $41.4 million, according to sales data from the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Colorado collected more than $13 million total in taxes, licenses and fees on marijuana in August 2015. That's up 70 percent from August 2014.

PORTLAND, Ore. — What if we legalized marijuana and no one really cared?

That's the overwhelming feeling I get standing inside Zion Cannabis in downtown Portland as customers buy marijuana from the friendly staff  five days after legalized marijuana legislation went into effect Oct. 1.

No muss, no fuss.

The Citizens’ Voice asked legislators in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties for their positions on medical marijuana, industrial hemp, decriminalization and legal marijuana. Here is what they said:

REPRESENTATIVES

Karen Boback R-Harveys Lake

Medical marijuana: “I believe cannabis deserves the opportunity to be properly vetted by the medical community. Scientific research accompanied by valid trials should be conducted to determine its value as a medical option. Doing so would provide the legislature with the opportunity to determine the level of legality for medical cannabis. Our goal should be to develop a medically responsible solution.”

MORE Illinois State Senate passes bill decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, making possession of up to 15 grams a civil law violation without jail time; bill is awaiting signature of Republican Gov Bruce Rauner. A state activist has filed the explanation for a medical marijuana initiative with the state attorney general’s office. Marijuana Legalization … There, he spends his time and becomes friends with many other delinquents. Marijuana is the most popular and easily accessible illegal drug in the United States today.