http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2011/10/why-weed-cheaper-west-mississippi/44030/ So basically what the article is saying is if it was legal, Oregon would be known as the pot state just like Idaho is known as the spud state!
Part of the reason is history. When all pot was grown outdoors, Oregon has a naturally conducive climate. Although much of the pot is grown indoors now, the people who are used to growing it already live here, their children live here, and the culture lives here. Part of the reason is for legal reasons. Although illegal in Oregon, the state laws are more lenient. However, even more important, the local police don't consider pot a top problem and don't target pot growers as heavily as police in other states do. Of course, the federal laws are the same and I imagine the DEA is perhaps even more active here. I really don't know for certain, this is just my hypothesis. From what I know first hand, I don't think this is true anymore. Perhaps it has merit elsewhere, but in Oregon, where buyers are picky, most growers that I have known (One very large) grow exclusively indoors. I have no stats to rattle off, so you could be right MARIS61, but my own experience which has been extensive (in the past), leads me to believe that in Oregon, most small and LARGE growers are indoor operations.
maybe OR can get the rights to " the EVERGREEN state" from WA.... ...i know every time i get a wiff of some skunk bud it makes me homesick for washington county...
From what I have seen, the big guys that are not connected to a cartel etc, but rather solo growers, prefer being rural. That way traffic is not an issue, there are no pesky crack heads around trying to steal the crop. less need for arms. Can grow outdoors in the summer and indoors when needed. The indoor crop can be processed on a six to eight week turn, while the outdoor crop is usually only one crop a summer. Last year was a bad crop for many that waited to get the most weight per plant as they could. Lots of mould and rot, or root bind because of the late season.