Page 55 - Southern Oregon Magazine Fall 2021

ROOTED IN

COMMUNITY VALUES

and Poised for Growth

by lisa manyon gypsy jane photography

annabis has become big business, and Oregon is one of the frontrunners in the legal
cannabis market. In 1998 Oregon joined several other states in legalizing medicinal
marijuana. With qualifying conditions, patients in Oregon can grow or have specific
Cgrowers cultivate flower to help relieve their pain. Medicinal legalization created
opportunities for organizations like the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. In 2014 Oregon
voters ended the statewide prohibition and legalized adult use and possession of cannabis. This,
in turn, allowed for taxation and regulation of sales to those 21 years and older.

Cannabis grows well in Southern Oregon and the Rogue Valley because of the micro-climates,
rich soil composition, long growing season, and abundant sunshine. The region’s microclimates
are similar to the Napa Valley though the terroir differs. Terroir is the natural environment in
which crops grow, including factors like soil, topography, and climate, and which impacts the
quality of what is grown. Cannabis plants, much like wine grapes or coffee beans, take on the
taste and flavor from the area and soil. The Rogue Valley has a distinct and favorable terroir for
both wine and cannabis. Interestingly, cannabis is quickly becoming one of Oregon’s largest
agricultural cash crops edging out the wine industry as a longtime leader.

Grown Rogue, founded by Obie and Sarah Strickler, is a leader in the legal recreational cannabis
market. The Stricklers started their cannabis ventures over fifteen years ago in affiliation with
the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. It all began with fifteen plants in Southern Oregon
and a passion for alternative health to provide high-quality medicine.

While the Stricklers are no longer part of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, they were
in the medical space for about a decade before forming Grown Rogue in 2016. They decided
to expand their products and provide benefits to a
broader range of people who appreciate self-care and
alternative wellness. To make that happen, they con-
verted two of their outdoor medical gardens into the
recreational market in 2017. At that same time, they
built out their first 17,000-square-foot indoor grow
facility focused on expansion, learning guidelines,
creating the brand, mission, and team.

Obie shares, “We found it extremely beneficial to
work collaboratively with our local experts at the
City of Medford and Jackson County to ensure we
were building to spec and in compliance with all
guidelines from the start. We made a point of being
fully transparent and seeking their support to ensure
we did everything to code. We are dedicated to creat-
ing new jobs, bringing in tax revenue, and creating a
sustainable, scalable company in Southern Oregon.”

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