Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW More snow headed for the high mountains ... Walmart to close 269 stores ... Ashland watershed trail network to be expanded and upgraded ... More snow headed for the high mountains ... Walmart to close 269 stores ... Ashland watershed trail network to be expanded and upgraded ... MARIJUANA Jackson County pot rules draw mixed reviews Hearing will continue Wednesday, Jan. 13 Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 6, 2016 at 5:57 PM Updated Jan 6, 2016 at 6:06 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 6, 2016 at 5:57 PM Updated Jan 6, 2016 at 6:06 PM » Social News The Jackson County Board of Commissioners listened to wildly differing views about proposed marijuana regulations during a public hearing that lasted nearly four hours Wednesday. Because time ran out before everyone could speak, the hearing will continue at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. After holding its own set of hearings in December, the Jackson County Planning Commission recommended numerous regulations, including a ban on the growing of for-profit recreational marijuana on land zoned for rural residential use. People would be allowed to grow medical marijuana, but plants would have to be set back from neighboring property lines by at least 250 feet. County commissioners ultimately will decide what regulations to adopt as they grapple with an expected marijuana gold rush triggered by Oregon voters' 2014 approval of a measure to legalize recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana was already legal in the state. At Wednesday's hearing, Talent resident Don Skillman urged commissioners to block marijuana production on rural residential land. "Rural residential zones are where our children are," said Skillman, adding that an armed, violent break-in occurred at a residential marijuana facility near his home. He also said neighbors need to be protected from the skunk-like odors of maturing marijuana plants. Skillman noted foul-smelling commercial hog operations are not allowed in rural residential zones. Skillman said objections to the proposed regulations are all based on people's desire to make money. Rogue River resident Sheryl Parsons said she has to contend with skunk-like odors both outside and inside her rural residential home. She said she fears a marijuana grow near her will affect the quality and quantity of her well water. Planning commissioners recommended growers be required to have legal water rights to the water they use. Trucking in water would be allowed only if that is not the primary means by which a grower waters marijuana. Some growers have been accused of illegally using domestic water wells or tapping into creeks and rivers without water rights. Peter Gross, chief operating officer of Green Valley Wellness LLC, said the proposed regulations are punitive and discriminatory toward the burgeoning marijuana industry — and especially small growers. "Most of these complaints are based on bad behavior by individuals," he said. Over-regulating the industry will push law-abiding people out and encourage marginal people to take over who don't care about following laws, Gross said. Local small-business owner Christy Kunkel of Medford said she plans to apply for a recreational marijuana producer's license from the state. She said buffers from neighboring property lines would make it impossible to grow on small acreage. Kunkel said marijuana is the only financially viable crop for some small parcels, and the crop would keep land in farm use. Talent area resident Michael Dean said he and his wife spent time looking for property to grow marijuana and bought it. But buffers would make his long, narrow lot unusable, he said. Under other proposed regulations, people could grow medical and recreational marijuana on land zoned for exclusive farm use and forest use. An owner, renter or lease holder would have to live on rural residential land where medical marijuana is grown. That means if a neighbor has a problem with a grow, there would be someone on site to address concerns, planning commissioners reasoned. They recommended against allowing growers to camp out in RVs, camping trailers or tents overnight — a common practice among growers guarding pot plants that become increasingly valuable as they mature. If a grower is accessing a grow site via a private road, the grower would have to get approval from a majority of neighbors living along the road, according to the recommendations. Marijuana could be grown on industrial land, but only if marijuana processing was also being done there. Buildings would have to have odor filtration systems, under the proposed regulations. Whatever regulations the county adopts, they are likely to be challenged in court. The regulations proposed by the Planning Commission don't cover the four recreational marijuana plants and six medical marijuana plants adults are allowed to grow for their own personal use under state law. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jan. 6, 2016 at 5:57 PM Updated Jan 6, 2016 at 6:06 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501