(Photo above: CannaTea property by David Clewett)
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners will hold two hearings to receive public input on whether to opt out of any of the marijuana businesses otherwise authorized by state law in unincorporated areas next Wednesday, August 12 at 10am and 5:30pm at the Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend.
The hearing cannot consider personal use, grows or possession of recreational or medical marijuana. It also cannot consider marijuana businesses within the cities of Bend, La Pine, Redmond or Sisters.
In November 2014, Oregon voters passed Ballot Measure 91, which legalized recreational marijuana and which provided for local jurisdiction opt outs. The 2015 Legislature enacted HB 3400, a comprehensive marijuana regulatory bill, including general provisions allowing local jurisdictions to opt out of marijuana businesses within 180 days of the effective date of the law, June 30, 2015.
Deschutes County may opt out of permitting marijuana businesses by enacting an ordinance identifying which, if any, of the following businesses to prohibit:
a) Medical Marijuana processing sites;
b) Medical Marijuana dispensaries;
c) Recreational Marijuana producers (growers);
d) Recreational Marijuana processors;
e) Recreational Marijuana wholesalers;
f) Recreational Marijuana retailers; or
g) Any combination of the businesses described above.
If Deschutes County enacts an ordinance to prohibit any or all marijuana businesses in unincorporated areas, the ordinance will be referred to the voters at the November 2016 General Election. A temporary moratorium will also be in effect until the election stopping the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) from issuing licenses for the prohibited marijuana businesses.
“As Commissioners, we are looking for input from the community on this important issue. Residents are saying that they want us to protect the livability and quality of life in our communities under the new marijuana laws and property owners and businesses want to invest in their buildings and properties to start new marijuana related commercial enterprises,” said Board Chair Anthony DeBone.
The public may view the hearings live or recorded online at http://www.deschutes.org/meetings or submit written comments to the Board of County Commissioners by email at board@deschutes.org, by mail to Deschutes County, PO Box 6005, Attn: BoCC, Bend, OR 97708-6005, or by fax (541) 385-3202.
