Jackson County, Oregon - Creating an ordinance to deal with objectionable odors from legal marijuana gardens may be a pipe dream because of potential conflicts with state and federal laws, Jackson County officials say.
County Commissioner C.W. Smith said an analysis by county staff indicated too many legal problems could arise in creating local regulations to deal with smells or traffic generated by medical marijuana growing operations.
"There does not seem to be an appropriate legal approach to address the issue at the county level," he said.
Commissioners will review the county staff's analysis of possible regulations at 9 a.m. today at the Jackson County Courthouse, 10 S. Oakdale St., Medford.
Responding to complaints from some neighbors of medical marijuana gardens, the commissioners directed the county's planning and legal staffs to study crafting an ordinance that would regulate traffic, noise, smell, visibility of the gardens and lights used for growing and prohibit cultivation within 1,000 feet of a school.
With 2,418 medical marijuana cardholders, Jackson County has the third-highest number of patients using the drug, behind only much larger Multnomah and Lane counties, according to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.
A grower can have up to six mature plants and 18 starts and seedlings per patient, for up to four patients.
Since the growing operations are not-for-profit, Smith said the county can't regulate them the way it can for businesses. Smith said he hopes state officials will tighten up laws on medical marijuana operations.
Backers of a new marijuana initiative that would create more state regulation of pot gardens are attempting enough signatures to place the initiative on the November ballot.
Smith said the commissioners decided to look at the issue because of growing concern over the impacts of these gardens in rural areas.
"We didn't mind looking at it," he said.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: MailTribune.com
Author: Damian Mann
Contact: Mailtribune.com
Copyright: 2010 Southern Oregon Media
Website:County pot ordinance called unlikely
County Commissioner C.W. Smith said an analysis by county staff indicated too many legal problems could arise in creating local regulations to deal with smells or traffic generated by medical marijuana growing operations.
"There does not seem to be an appropriate legal approach to address the issue at the county level," he said.
Commissioners will review the county staff's analysis of possible regulations at 9 a.m. today at the Jackson County Courthouse, 10 S. Oakdale St., Medford.
Responding to complaints from some neighbors of medical marijuana gardens, the commissioners directed the county's planning and legal staffs to study crafting an ordinance that would regulate traffic, noise, smell, visibility of the gardens and lights used for growing and prohibit cultivation within 1,000 feet of a school.
With 2,418 medical marijuana cardholders, Jackson County has the third-highest number of patients using the drug, behind only much larger Multnomah and Lane counties, according to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.
A grower can have up to six mature plants and 18 starts and seedlings per patient, for up to four patients.
Since the growing operations are not-for-profit, Smith said the county can't regulate them the way it can for businesses. Smith said he hopes state officials will tighten up laws on medical marijuana operations.
Backers of a new marijuana initiative that would create more state regulation of pot gardens are attempting enough signatures to place the initiative on the November ballot.
Smith said the commissioners decided to look at the issue because of growing concern over the impacts of these gardens in rural areas.
"We didn't mind looking at it," he said.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: MailTribune.com
Author: Damian Mann
Contact: Mailtribune.com
Copyright: 2010 Southern Oregon Media
Website:County pot ordinance called unlikely
