Redmond councilors to vote on pot-growing rules
Beginning July 1, Oregon households will be allowed to legally grow up to four marijuana plants as a result of the statewide legalization of marijuana passed by Oregon voters in November 2014.
Next Tuesday, the Redmond City Council is scheduled to vote on standards for marijuana cultivation in residential zones.
The proposed actions will add language to the city code “intended to protect residents from marijuana cultivation becoming a public nuisance and to preserve the health, safety and welfare of Redmond residents by mitigating the potential impacts of marijuana cultivation on residential lots,” Thursday’s news release said.
“These recommendations strive to find a successful balance for integrating this new paradigm of marijuana legalization into the community,” the city announcement added.
Pre-existing city code prohibits the issuance operating licenses or permits to any business or land use development that violates federal, state or local laws. While marijuana is legal in Oregon, it remains, as of now, a Schedule 1 controlled substance at the Federal Controlled Substance Act.
If approved, Redmond residents must comply with the following standards of the Residential Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance No. 2015-07:
Marijuana cultivation shall occur only as an accessory use to a legally established residence.
The possession, growing and processing of marijuana plants must not be observable from the public right-of-way.
Residential marijuana cultivation needs to take place in an enclosed, locked space, is not conducted openly or publicly and is not made available for sale.
Marijuana growing and/or cultivation shall not adversely affect the health or safety of nearby residents by creating noise, noxious gasses and/or odor.
1. The smell or odor of marijuana growing within the residential structure shall not be capable of being detected by a person with a normal sense of smell from any adjoining lot, parcel, or tract of land not owned by the owner of the residential structure or from any adjoining public right of way.
2. Cultivation shall not create an odor, humidity or mold problem on the subject property or adjacent property, nearby property or areas open to the public.
No chemical shall be used to enhance or extract tetrahydeocannabinol (THC) from marijuana that is grown in a residential structure.
“Redmond has long been focused on the livability of our community and has been very intentional about being family-friendly,” said Mayor George Endicott.
“As marijuana legalization is phased in throughout Oregon, the City Council and I must continually look at ways to balance both the legal rights of residents who wish to grow, cultivate and use marijuana with those of neighboring residents who do not wish to be impacted,” he said. “I am confident this ordinance is a good first step in striking that balance.”
To review the proposed Ordinance No. 2015-07, standards for growing marijuana on residential lots, visit the city’s website at www.ci.redmond.or.us/government/city-council/council-meeting-info/meeting-documents.
