BEND, Ore. -

Deschutes County officials are getting plenty of reaction to a proposal to allow the growing of  recreational marijuana, in addition to medical marijuana.

Many residents in rural Deschutes County say this proposal would increase the number of marijuana growers tremendously, leaving residents concerned who their neighbors could be next year.

"Commercial marijuana in any form should not be allowed in our rural residential communities," one resident said at Thursday night's hearing.

It was a heated exchange of words as many residents came to voice their concerns on allowing recreation marijuana grow operations in the county.

After months of pressure from Oregon’s congressional delegation, Oregon State University announced Thursday it has requested federal approval to conduct research on industrial hemp, a non-intoxicating cousin of marijuana.

OSU faculty members have applied to the Drug Enforcement Administration for permission to do the work, which will focus on productivity, yield and growing conditions for hemp in Western Oregon.

That’s something that the state’s representatives in Washington have been advocating strenuously.

BEND, Ore., Nov. 5, 2015 -- The Marijuana/Cannabis industry just came into full bloom with a major online resource for one of the nation's fastest-growing industries. CannaFo.com has harnessed technology to become the world's first comprehensive online directory, marketplace, news portal, growing advice resource and social media platform.

The Oregon-based leaders are proving that weed is serious business.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- With recreational marijuana now legal in the state, entrepreneurs in Oregon are showing that the end of prohibition isn't just about smoking joints legally. It's good business, and the drug is both lucrative and popular in the places that have legalized it.

On July 1, Oregon joined Washington state, Alaska, Colorado and the District of Columbia inlegalizing marijuana possession. A system to buy and sell cannabis wasn't set up until Oct. 1, so the state is only just beginning to see the monetary benefits of the plant.

Which form of cannabis is most prevalent on the dispensary menus in your state?

ALBANY, Ore. -- On Monday, Grow For Vets, a national, tax-exempt nonprofit organization that gives free cannabis to veterans, announced the largest cannabis giveaway event in Oregon history.

The Veterans Day free cannabis giveaway will take place at Samurai Grower Supply in Albany, on Nov. 14 from 11:00AM to 5:00PM.

All attendees will receive a free gift bag containing information about Grow for Vets, as well as free cannabis and related products worth up to several hundred dollars each. The supply of gift bags is limited.

The organization says that the public is strongly encouraged to attend to show their support for veterans.

“Pot Baron” Tripp Keber, the CEO of Dixie Brands who has been called the “Willie Wonka of Weed” by some, was the cover story on the September edition of mg Magazine, an impressive new cannabis-industry focused endeavor by CANN Media. Thomas Hymes does a masterful job of capturing Keber’s persona and describing the challenges and opportunities for the maker of premium infused marijuana products. Dixie Brands has expanded from its home state of Colorado to California recently, but the company is preparing for a broader expansion:

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -

As the cannabis industry grows, competition for customers is fierce.

An Ashland-based company says their technology can help set products apart.

N2 Packaging LLC seals and preserves marijuana in cans using nitrogen, claiming the product has a longer shelf life.

“They know it's going to be good for as long as they keep it in their dresser, or the cabinet or wherever. It's not going to go stale or dry on them,” said Luke Olsen, the company’s retail sales manager.

Olsen and a partner have their own product line called The Factory.

N2 Packaging received a patent to hermetically seal controlled substances in an altered environment last October.

As Canada begins the long conversation of how to regulate legal marijuana for adult use in Canada, various US states like Colorado or Washington often get mentioned as templates to follow or learn from. One not mentioned quite as often is Oregon, who also recently regulated legal marijuana for adult recreational use after over a decade of regulating legal marijuana for medical purposes.