Nearly 75 Deschutes County business owners and allies wearing green ribbons filled the room at the Deschutes County Planning Commission meeting last night. The group delivered a petition signed by more than 200 local business owners, farmers and residents urging the Planning Commission to support licensed cannabis farming and other businesses in unincorporated Deschutes County.
Speaking from the dais, Deschutes Planning Commission Chair Hugh Palcic called the turnout “historic” and thanked attendees for participating in the County’s planning process. After nearly five hours of deliberation, the Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve a motion to “strongly” urge the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners not to prohibit cannabis businesses.
“Central Oregon is home to a thriving cannabis business community, and the Planning Commission’s decision reflects an understanding that thoughtful regulations and strong oversight will support both public safety and job creation for rural Deschutes County,” said Amy Margolis, who leads the Oregon Cannabis Association.
“Good regulations make good neighbors,” said Hunter Neubauer, co-owner of Oregrown Industries in Bend. “We very much appreciate the hard work and thorough public process Chair Palcic and the members of the Planning Commission have undertaken to develop their recommendations.”
Neubauer worked with a group of local business owners and the Oregon Cannabis Association to organize the petition and attendance at the meeting. The group gathered more than 200 signatures in less than three days through a word-of-mouth campaign.
“We are local businesses, job providers and taxpayers, and we are in this for the long haul,” Neubauer said. “We look forward to working with our community and local officials in the years to come. Together, we will build a safe and well-regulated legal cannabis industry that brings economic opportunity to our county, our region and our state.”
Download the petition to the Deschutes County Planning Commission here.
Source: Oregon Cannabis Association press release
