Media Release - County Commissioners to Host Two Public Hearings on Land Use Regulations for Marijuana Business in Unincorporated Deschutes County

Contact: Matt Martin, Associate Planner, 541-330-4620

Release Date: 11/24/15

The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners will hold two public hearings on proposed land use regulations for businesses that grow, process and sell marijuana in unincorporated Deschutes County.

The hearings are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2. at the Deschutes Services Building, located at 1300 NW Wall Street, in Bend.

The County encourages residents to voice their opinions about the proposed marijuana land use regulations. To review the proposal, or to submit written input, visit: www.deschutes.org/marijuana.

The Deschutes County Planning Commission recently held two public hearings on the proposed marijuana land use regulations and, after deliberating on Nov. 23, voted to forward a package of recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. The Planning Commission’s recommendations include:

• That the County not prohibit or “opt out” of any marijuana business type regulated by the State.
   
• That marijuana production (growing) only be allowed on properties that are 20 acres or larger and zoned for Exclusive Farm Use and on properties that are in Rural Industrial Zones.
   
• A range of time, place and manner regulations on businesses, such as those addressing setbacks, odor, noise, and lighting.

The growing and processing of medical marijuana has been legal in Oregon since voters passed the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act in 1998. In Nov. 2014, Oregon voters approved Measure 91, which legalized the possession and use of marijuana for adult (21+) recreational use. 

State law gives the County the authority to adopt reasonable regulations for marijuana-related businesses in unincorporated Deschutes County.  The County is working to develop and adopt local regulations by the end of 2015, before the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) starts accepting applications for marijuana-related business licenses in Jan. 2016.