MEDFORD, Ore. — Narc and Cody are finding out there's truth to the adage "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."

The two drug-sniffing canines that work for Medford police could face early retirement because they are too good at detecting marijuana, which will become legal July 1.

"It's kind of sad," Deputy Chief Brett Johnson said. "Nobody wants to see a dog lose its job."

The issue arises because drug-sniffing dogs are often used to provide leads - probable cause - that can allow police to search people or property for drugs. If a suspect were carrying marijuana and heroin and a dog trained to smell both indicated the presence of a drug, any arrest could be invalidated, because the dog may have been smelling legal marijuana.

WHITE CITY, Ore.- - A lab in White City is speaking over concerns regulations when it comes to testing marijuana.
“Currently the cannabis testing lab industry here in the Southern Oregon market is unregulated with very little government oversight” said Jason Wilson, a scientist at Kenevir Labs.
Wilson earned his Master of Science Degree from Southern Oregon University, specializing in Biology and Education. He said his company approaches this from a scientific approach and are concerned about the implications of inadequate testing.
“We view ourselves as providing a public service toward pubic and safety. That’s really our primary concern” said Wilson.

Linn County officials are encouraged by a unanimous 60-0 vote by the Oregon House Judiciary Committee for HB 2313 which will allow schools to deal with students who have consumed marijuana the same as those who come to school intoxicated.

“This all got started after I talked with West Albany Principal Susie Orsborn,” explained Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist. “She told me about the challenges schools face when it comes to dealing with kids who come to school with marijuana in their systems.”

Currently, schools can suspend the students, but they can’t push the matter into the legal system or get the student help through the local Juvenile Department.

A small crowd gathered around a stage set up on the far corner of Pioneer Courthouse Square. People dressed in marijuana-themed outfits, some wore small green ribbons on their shirts, a few held signs: "Free the Weed," "Help End Marijuana Prohibition," "F*** the DEA."

It was Portland's local demonstration in a worldwide day of protest called the Global Cannabis March. This year marks the 16th for the event, which is expected to go on in nearly 300 other cities.

Dive Brief:

• Oregon's electric utilities are steeling themselves for an anticipated spike in demand after marijuana becomes legal for recreational use after July 1, Oregon Capital Insider reports.
• Well-known as an energy hog when grown indoors, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) estimates four plants draw as much power as 29 refrigerators.
• The state is considering efficiency measures, but federal money that typically pays utilities to convince consumers to use less cannot be directed towards cannabis operations..

Dive Insight:

Two months from now, on July 1, Oregon will become the fourth state to allow residents to legally purchase marijuana for recreational use. In anticipation of legalization, the governing body that will oversee marijuana licensing and sales is preparing for something unexpected: A huge influx of cold, hard cash.

Legal marijuana in states like Colorado and Washington have surpassed revenue expectations in their first few years. But when marijuana businesses try to pay their taxes, the federal law that makes marijuana illegal limits their access to financial institutions.

A bill that would limit the size of medical marijuana growing operations in Oregon is generating angry opposition from some patients and activists.

The proposed measure, unveiled late Friday afternoon, is aimed at curbing the black market while prodding larger growers to supply the legal recreational market the state is developing.

This approach is winning wide support on the House-Senate committee charged with implementing the marijuana legalization initiative approved by Oregon voters in November. It also has varying degrees of support from many marijuana industry figures who want to develop a successful legal market in the state.

As the state works out rules regulating recreational marijuana in Oregon, the electric power needs of indoor pot operations are raising issues for energy officials.

SALEM — As Oregon prepares for legal marijuana July 1, the state’s energy agency is looking for ways to curb electricity use by indoor pot growers.

Indoor marijuana gardens are well-known power hogs, but Oregon faces a dilemma as it researches how to extend its energy efficiency programs to the cannabis industry: federal money that typically helps pay for efficiency projects cannot be used for any activities that involve pot.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Some observers say a North Dakota bill passed this legislative session that sets guidelines for industrial hemp production should make it easier to grow and may help create an industry for Indian tribes, although it could take a while to sort out federal policies.

Hemp can be used to make clothing, lotion and many other products, but growing it has been illegal under federal law because it is type of cannabis plant and looks like marijuana. Unlike marijuana, people can't get high on hemp.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. David Monson is meant to put the state in line with the new federal farm bill that allows hemp to be grown through state agriculture departments and college research stations.

Legalization? What legalization? Advocates may rightly be asking this question after the Oregon State Police requested a $3.9 million budget increase to go after marijuana.

The OSP wants the money for 2015-20176 to pay for 11 full-time troopers and detectives to go after pot, reports Aaron Mesh at Willamette Week.

Since that's in addition to the $1.3 million the state police already requested for a legal marijuana enforcement budget earlier this year, one can't help asking oneself, where are the savings in marijuana enforcement that supposedly come with "legalization"?

The state police have declined comment.