As Oregon approaches a decade of legal adult-use marijuana, Ontario has become a significant hub for cannabis sales, particularly attracting customers from neighboring Idaho. Dispensaries in Ontario have been operating for six and a half years, contributing to about 10% of Oregon's total cannabis sales.
"We knew Ontario was going to be pretty rich with sales," said Bryce Thurman, the owner of Thur's Smoke Shop. "We also got ten acres on this property, so it gives us room for doing a grow and processing down the road."
The dispensary's success is largely attributed to customers from Idaho, where strict laws leave residents with limited options. "Definitely a big factor — Idaho with their strict laws, which it doesn't seem they're going to loosen any time soon," Thurman said. "You can't really say you'd open out in Ontario if it wasn't for the Boise, Idaho crowd."
Despite the thriving business, dispensary operators face unique challenges, primarily due to the cash-only nature of the industry. Federal regulations deter banks from engaging with cannabis businesses, creating legal and logistical hurdles. "There's only one bank in Oregon that really does business with cannabis companies," Thurman said. "You're kinda just left to the wolves and the cash — and that can be pretty dangerous for any business."
Read more at Idaho News