Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
On July 1, recreational marijuana became legal in Oregon.
Now, communities in eastern Oregon are taking action against the commercial sale of pot.
Many cities, like Vale, Nyssa, and Ontario that were highly against the passing of Measure 91, are looking at passing ordinances that would ban the commercial sale of marijuana in their city.
Last election, nearly 70 percent of the people living in Malheur County voted against Measure 91, a ballot measure that legalized marijuana in the state of Oregon.
But now they're getting a second chance to reject marijuana sales.
House Bill 3400 states if more than 55 percent of the county voted against Measure 91, cities in that county can pass an ordinance prohibiting the commercial sale of marijuana. And many cities in eastern Oregon are taking advantage of it.
"A majority of our citizens voted in opposition of Measure 91," said Vale City Manager Lynn Findley.
With the legalization of marijuana, there also came parameters that Findley says would have been nearly impossible for the city of Vale to meet.
"It was a thousand feet from school, thousand feet from other dispensaries, 500 feet from recreational areas, only in commercial zones and we don't have a lot of available opportunities," said Findley.
Nyssa has already passed their first reading of a similar ordinance.
"We don't want it in Nyssa. We don't want it in Malheur County and the reason is we have enough crime as it is," said Nyssa City Manager Roberta Vanderwall.
Vanderwall says they've already seen more people moving to Nyssa.
"We've already noticed people buying up houses in Nyssa that are from Idaho so they can start growing their own or being a retailer, and we don't want that," said Vanderwall.
Hundreds of people showed up to a public hearing in Ontario Thursday to discuss if the city should follow in Nyssa and Vale's footsteps. The ordinance passed with a unanimous vote.
"Vale, Nyssa, Fruitland, Payette, that is our community and we had to do what was right for the community," said Ontario Mayor Robert Verini.
But some feel this just opened up an avenue for crime.
"The black market will continue to be pervasive. The only way to fully get rid of the black market is to implement regulation," said Christy Aranguic who opposed the ordinance.
By banning the commercial sale of marijuana, the cities will not receive any tax revenues.
"I think it's more important, not the dollars and cents. It's more important what the community feels is a safety measure," said Verini.
Now that does not mean you can't have marijuana in the city, it is still legal to possess in the state. The ordinances mean you cannot commercially sell it inside city limits.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: E. Oregon cities look to ban marijuana sales
Author: Dean Johnson
Contact: Contact Us | ktvb
Photo Credit: Blair Gable/Reuters
Website: KTVB.COM | Boise Idaho News, Weather, Traffic, Sports, and Events - KTVB.COM
Now, communities in eastern Oregon are taking action against the commercial sale of pot.
Many cities, like Vale, Nyssa, and Ontario that were highly against the passing of Measure 91, are looking at passing ordinances that would ban the commercial sale of marijuana in their city.
Last election, nearly 70 percent of the people living in Malheur County voted against Measure 91, a ballot measure that legalized marijuana in the state of Oregon.
But now they're getting a second chance to reject marijuana sales.
House Bill 3400 states if more than 55 percent of the county voted against Measure 91, cities in that county can pass an ordinance prohibiting the commercial sale of marijuana. And many cities in eastern Oregon are taking advantage of it.
"A majority of our citizens voted in opposition of Measure 91," said Vale City Manager Lynn Findley.
With the legalization of marijuana, there also came parameters that Findley says would have been nearly impossible for the city of Vale to meet.
"It was a thousand feet from school, thousand feet from other dispensaries, 500 feet from recreational areas, only in commercial zones and we don't have a lot of available opportunities," said Findley.
Nyssa has already passed their first reading of a similar ordinance.
"We don't want it in Nyssa. We don't want it in Malheur County and the reason is we have enough crime as it is," said Nyssa City Manager Roberta Vanderwall.
Vanderwall says they've already seen more people moving to Nyssa.
"We've already noticed people buying up houses in Nyssa that are from Idaho so they can start growing their own or being a retailer, and we don't want that," said Vanderwall.
Hundreds of people showed up to a public hearing in Ontario Thursday to discuss if the city should follow in Nyssa and Vale's footsteps. The ordinance passed with a unanimous vote.
"Vale, Nyssa, Fruitland, Payette, that is our community and we had to do what was right for the community," said Ontario Mayor Robert Verini.
But some feel this just opened up an avenue for crime.
"The black market will continue to be pervasive. The only way to fully get rid of the black market is to implement regulation," said Christy Aranguic who opposed the ordinance.
By banning the commercial sale of marijuana, the cities will not receive any tax revenues.
"I think it's more important, not the dollars and cents. It's more important what the community feels is a safety measure," said Verini.
Now that does not mean you can't have marijuana in the city, it is still legal to possess in the state. The ordinances mean you cannot commercially sell it inside city limits.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: E. Oregon cities look to ban marijuana sales
Author: Dean Johnson
Contact: Contact Us | ktvb
Photo Credit: Blair Gable/Reuters
Website: KTVB.COM | Boise Idaho News, Weather, Traffic, Sports, and Events - KTVB.COM
