Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council last week set May 6 as the date for a public meeting about marijuana.
During the meeting, city officials will explain their understanding of the legal framework – what the city can and cannot do – surrounding marijuana since Oregon voters passed Measure 91, legalizing recreational use of marijuana under state law, in the November general election.
Following the informational session, the council will hear from members of the public about what they think the city should do regarding marijuana.
Councilor Jeff Goodwin has proposed banning marijuana and making the use of real property for illegal purposes a zoning violation.
During its regular meeting on April 14, the council was scheduled to decide whether to place Goodwin’s proposed ordinances on the council agenda for its regular meeting on April 28.
Councilor Bruce Hobbs moved to dismiss the proposed ordinances, drawing audience applause; but his motion died for lack of a second. Following a conversation among councilors and members of the public, the council decided to hold a public meeting. It did not set a date for a work session Goodwin suggested for the council to discuss his proposals.
Goodwin presented three new ordinance proposals to the council during the meeting.
The first contains four sections regarding taxation; registration of plants and transfers of marijuana, with restrictions on where and when it is sold; repealing existing prohibition in the city ordinance; and prohibiting the use and possession of marijuana for a period of one year. City voters would need to ratify it or the prohibition would expire after a year.
The second ordinance proposal would limit prohibition to recreational marijuana, allowing the medical use of marijuana.
The third deals with the unlawful use of land.
“We’ve talked somewhat,” said Councilor Dave Trask. “I think we should set a date for a public meeting and have everybody, who wants to, talk.”
Trask, like other councilors, including Goodwin, supported the idea of going to Sweet Home voters with the issue.
“If we’re going to put this to the test, then we need to put it before the voters,” Trask said. “Let the voters decide.”
A member of the audience noted that the voters already decided last year.
Hobbs said he would support the public meeting, sorting out what the city and voters can and cannot do under state law regarding marijuana, as well as clearing up possible misunderstanding about what voters can do with prohibition.
City Manager Craig Martin explained that Measure 91 allows residents of a municipality to vote to prohibit the retail sale of marijuana. That cannot go before voters before November 2016.
The meeting should be about what the council is doing, Goodwin said. Concerning the state law, different people will give different opinions.
“We need to move this forward,” Goodwin said.
Supporters of legal marijuana suggested that the city should wait until the state legislature and Oregon Liquor Control Commission finish developing and implementing their regulations under Measure 91.
Resident Theresa Brown said it seems premature for the city to talk about marijuana regulation since the state and OLCC have not yet decided what the laws concerning marijuana will be.
She said that residents have seen four drafts of ordinances prohibiting and regulating marijuana, and every time they come to the council meeting to talk about them, they’re different.
If the public meeting is informational, and it is an attempt to refine the law, she and other proponents of legal marijuana support it.
“You’re right,” Trask said. “We don’t know what they’re going to do.”
But a League of Oregon Cities meeting he attended has “clarified things,” he said, and he has “no confidence the legislature will get it done.”
“Unless you’re a consumer of pot, I don’t think you can truly understand why people think it’s important,” Brown said. “What’s the hurry?”
“The ordinances are jumping the gun,” said resident Terry Shank. “The ordinances do nothing but inflame the community.”
The council voted 6-0 to set a public meeting for 6 p.m. on May 6 at a location to be determined.
For further information, call the city manager’s office at (541) 367-8969.
Present at the regular council meeting were Greg Mahler, Mayor Jim Gourley, Hobbs, Goodwin, Trask and Ryan Underwood. Marybeth Angulo was absent.
In other business, the council:
n Appointed Allen Braun to the Tree Commission. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2019. One vacancy remains on the Tree Commission.
n Recognized the city’s first three participants in its new adopt-a-park program.
The Youth Watershed Council adopted Lower Sankey Park. James Goble has adopted Upper Sankey Park. The Christopher and Carrie Liles and their children, Ivan, Katelyn and Kevin, have adopted Northside Park.