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CONTINUING COVERAGE: MARIJUANA Jackson County commissioners approve 75-foot pot grow buffers Marijuana grows will have to be kept away from neighbors Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 5:59 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 6:06 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 5:59 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 6:06 PM » Social News The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has given preliminary approval to a requirement that marijuana gardens be at least 75 feet away from neighboring property lines. The rule applies to medical marijuana grown on rural residential-zoned land. Recreational marijuana cannot be commercially grown there under proposed county rules. Commissioners created the 75-foot buffer in a 2-1 vote Wednesday. Commissioner Rick Dyer, who had favored a 100-foot buffer from property lines, joined forces with Commissioner Doug Breidenthal, who initially advocated a 150-foot buffer from neighboring houses, to break a stalemate over the issue. Commissioner Colleen Roberts voted against the compromise, saying any buffer would intrude on private property rights and create enforcement headaches. Jackson County staff members will draft language for new marijuana regulations. Commissioners will meet again at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, to decide whether to finalize the regulations they have spent weeks hammering out. The buffer issue has been the most contentious topic during public meetings. Dyer said the 75-foot buffer regulation is not perfect, but it will allow people to grow medical marijuana on more rural residential lots. A wider 250-foot buffer originally proposed by county staff would have blocked grows on many parcels, especially small lots. "This is an imperfect science here. I believe allowing some distance is appropriate," Dyer said. Neighbors have complained about skunk-like odors from maturing marijuana plants, barking guard dogs, traffic, lights, guns being fired and other problems with marijuana grows since Oregon voters passed Measure 91 in 2014 to legalize recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana long has been legal in the state. Marijuana industry supporters have said wide property line buffers would close down many small-scale operators. They say a few bad apples are causing problems and most growers want to be good neighbors. Roberts said the 75-foot buffers won't solve the concerns voiced by neighbors upset by nearby marijuana grows. But she said they're better than wider buffers. "I'd rather have none, but people would still be able to use some of their property with 75 feet," she said. Regarding other marijuana regulations, the county likely will ban temporary fencing around marijuana grows. State law requires grows to be screened from public view. That prompted many growers to put up temporary plastic sheeting and tarps that many residents think are unsightly. In a previous meeting, commissioners agreed growers must have legal access to water and cannot tap illegally into domestic wells to water crops. Growers can buy water and have it trucked in if legal irrigation is not available on property. People would be able to grow medical and recreational marijuana on land zoned for exclusive farm use and forest use. Marijuana could be grown on industrial land if it's done indoors and processing also occurs at the site. The county regulations will not apply to 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 Feb. 17, 2016 at 5:59 PM Updated Feb 17, 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... 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