Deschutes County plans two pot moratorium hearings

Deschutes County commissioners plan two hearings next Wednesday morning and evening to receive public input as they consider whether to opt out of any of the marijuana businesses otherwise authorized by state law in unincorporated areas.

The hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall Street in Bend.

County Administrator Tom Anderson said the large level of interest in the issues prompted the county to schedule the evening, as well as morning hearings, as they have done with other matters.

The hearings 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 and the Oregon Health Authority from issuing licenses for the prohibited marijuana businesses.

“As commissioners, we are looking for input from the community on this important issue,” said Board Chair Tony DeBone.

“Residents are saying that they want us to protect the livability and quality of life in our communities under the new marijuana laws,” he said, while “property owners and businesses want to invest in their buildings and properties to start new marijuana-related commercial enterprises.”

The public may also 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.

For more information, please call Deschutes County Administrator Tom Anderson (541) 388-6565, or Community Development Director Nick Lelack at (541) 385-1708.