Title
Marijuana Regulations
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
City staff would like direction from the Planning and City Commissions as to which, if any, regulations to pursue regarding marijuana.
BACKGROUND:
Currently, the City bans marijuana businesses. The City Commission passed Ordinance 15-1017 on November 4, 2015. The City Commission referred the question of whether to prohibit recreational marijuana producers, processors, wholesalers and retailers, as well as medical marijuana processors and medical marijuana dispensaries to the voters of Oregon City. This shall be referred to the electors of the City of Oregon City at the next statewide general election on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
If Oregon City votes in favor of these types of businesses, the City may adopt time place and manner regulations so as to provide a legal process for permitting and regulating them. Cities may impose reasonable regulations on the following:
- The hours of operation of retail licensees and medical marijuana grow sites, processing sites and dispensaries;
- The location of all four types of recreational licensees, as well as medical marijuana grow sites, processing sites and dispensaries, except that a city may not impose more than a 1,000-foot buffer between retail licensees;
- The manner of operation of all four types of recreational licensees, as well as medical marijuana processors and dispensaries; and
- The public's access to the premises of all four types of recreational licenses, as well as medical marijuana grow sites, processing sites and dispensaries.
The law also provides that time, place and manner regulations imposed on recreational licensees must be consistent with the city's comprehensive plan, zoning ordinances, and public health and safety laws.
City staff has gathered information from the public regarding the regulation of marijuana with two online surveys and an open house. Summaries of the responses are enclosed. Commissioners are asked to review...
Click here for full text