Pubdate: Sat, 27 Feb 2016
Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR)
Copyright: 2016 The Mail Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mailtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642
Note: Only prints LTEs from within it's circulation area, 200 word count limit
Author: Vickie Aldous

MEDICAL POT MAY BE ALLOWED ON RURAL RESIDENTIAL LAND AFTER ALL

Bill Still Needs to Clear Oregon Senate

The Oregon House of Representatives has passed a bill that would 
grandfather in existing medical marijuana grows on rural residential 
land as long as the grows meet certain restrictions.

The bill still needs to clear the Oregon Senate and be signed into 
law by Gov. Kate Brown, Mary Beth Williams, chief of staff for Rep. 
Peter Buckley, D-Ore., said on Friday.

Rapidly changing marijuana legislation in the Oregon Legislature has 
been keeping local officials, growers and neighbors off balance as 
state legislators meet in a short session this year that is expected 
to wrap up in early March.

Jackson County Development Services Director Kelly Madding advised 
the Jackson County Board of Commissioners earlier this week that 
medical marijuana could be banned outright on rural residential land. 
Commissioners are hoping to finalize their own local county 
regulations in March.

Recreational marijuana grows already are banned by state law on rural 
residential land.

Under provisions of the bill that cleared the Oregon House, medical 
marijuana grows can remain in place on rural residential land if they 
were in place before Jan. 1, 2015, Williams said.

Outdoor medical marijuana grows on rural residential land must be 
smaller than 5,000 square feet, while indoor grows must not exceed 
1,250 square feet, she said.

County commissioners will continue their deliberations on proposed 
local marijuana regulations at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Jackson 
County Courthouse auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom