Local Roundup for Oregon Cannabis November 2, 2015

Every week, we are trying to keep our membership up-to-date on what is happening around the state with local bans and regulation.  Here is this week’s local roundup:

Myrtle Point:  The Myrtle Point City Councilors referred an ordinance to voters for the 2016 General Election on whether or not to ban licensed commercial marijuana activities, according to the Coquille Valley Courant.  The Coos County Elections Office website shows that 467 residents voted against Measure 91 and 377 residents voted for it.

Hermiston: The Hermiston City Council took a vote last Monday on referring an ordinance to voters to ban marijuana licensed activity, but was stalled when two councilors voted no, according to the East Oregonian.  A unanimous vote is required to pass an ordinance in the same meeting when it is first read.  The ordinance is expected to be read and adopted at the next meeting on November 9.  Hermiston is in Umatilla County, where voters opposed Measure 91 by more than 55%; sending the issue to voters is a significant difference from the way other cities and counties in Eastern Oregon have previously dealt with local bans, implementing them directly.   

Benton County: The Benton County Board of Commissioners will hold a hearing on Tuesday to discuss where they will allow licensed marijuana activity, according to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.  One local group, the Benton County Marijuana Growers Association, spoke out in opposition to the prohibition for growing marijuana on forest conservation land, arguing that plans to grow marijuana would be less impactful on the environment than other crops and could create significant tax revenues to support education and other public services.  The hearing will be held at noon in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, located at 205 NW Fifth St, according to Hasso Hering.

Linn County & Albany: Also according Hasso Hering, the Linn County Commissioners have set a hearing for Monday morning at 10am at the courthouse to refer a ban for all licensed marijuana activity to voters in the 2016 General Election.  The Albany City Council will also hold a special work session on Monday at 7:15pm to discuss the options for marijuana, including one option to repeal the ban on adult sales from existing medical marijuana dispensaries while referring to voters a ban on adult use stores.

Deschutes County: The Deschutes County Planning Commission has scheduled two hearings on proposed land use regulations for licensed marijuana activities, according to MyCentralOregon.com.   More information, including links to the agendas and proposed ordinances, can be found at www.deschutes.org/marijuana. There is also contact information for submitting comments for the hearing at the bottom.

Warrenton: The city of Warrenton heard the first reading on an ordinance that will limit licensed marijuana activity to the industrial and commercial zones on the east side of the highway, according to the Daily Astorian.  An existing medical marijuana dispensary that is sited on the west side of the highway will be grandfathered in, but will be unable to convert to adult use sales if the ordinance passes.

The OLCC has updated the list of banned counties and cities.  Those currently listed (* indicates new listing) with the OLCC include:

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