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0 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 (No heading) ... Our View: Medford Center owners invest in city's future ... Jackson County groups hope to establish a homeless campsite ... (No heading) ... Our View: Medford Center owners invest in city's future ... Jackson County groups hope to establish a homeless campsite ... MEDICAL MARIJUANA Jackson County considering buffer between parks and marijuana dispensaries Commissioners take input on medical marijuana dispensaries Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 5:55 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 5:55 PM » Social News The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is considering whether to adopt buffers between parks and medical marijuana dispensaries. Commissioners asked planning staff members to research how a parks buffer could affect the number of dispensaries allowed in the county. The request followed hours of public testimony and debate Wednesday about dispensary regulations. Commissioners will take up the issue of regulations again at 1:30 p.m. April 29 in the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. "It's a tough balancing act," said Commissioner Rick Dyer. "There are a lot of things that need to be considered." The city of Talent, which adopted a buffer zone between parks and dispensaries within city limits, is concerned dispensaries could be allowed on land under county jurisdiction that falls within Talent's urban growth boundary. Land within the UGB is slated to be annexed eventually into Talent. Commissioners also are weighing the rights of would-be dispensary owners and medical marijuana patients against the concerns of many White City residents concerned about dispensaries locating too close to their homes. White City is an unincorporated community without its own city laws on dispensaries. Many cities in Jackson County have adopted a hodgepodge of their own regulations on dispensaries, including residential buffers. Jackson County is in the midst of adopting its own regulations for land outside cities before a county dispensary moratorium is lifted on May 1. Commissioners voiced support for a proposed one-mile buffer between dispensaries and the Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics in White City, which helps thousands of veterans each year overcome addiction and deal with mental illness and homelessness. Veterans who volunteer at the center said dispensaries would pose a temptation to recovering addicts if people could too easily walk to a dispensary. But cancer patient and medical marijuana user Melanie Barniskis said too many regulations would limit patient access. "There are people who rely on this for medical reasons. It's not recreational," she said. Commissioners are also wrestling with whether to stick with state laws mandating 1,000-foot distances between dispensaries, or to adopt even wider distances. With 1,000-foot distances, up to 27 dispensaries could be allowed on general commercial lands along Highway 99, Highway 62 and West Main Street outside of Medford, Jackson County Development Services Director Kelly Madding said. "Depending on your perspective, this is the best- or worst-case scenario," she said. Madding said the number likely would be lower because not all landlords want to lease or sell property for dispensaries. Commissioners favored limiting dispensaries to lands zoned for general commercial use, which would put zones such as neighborhood commercial, commercial I-5 interchange, industrial, exclusive farm use and forest off-limits. The state already bars dispensaries in residential zones and within 1,000 feet of schools. Commissioners also said they were likely to follow Jackson County Sheriff Corey Falls' recommendation to set a 1,000-foot buffer between dispensaries and commercial interchange lands. The goal would be to stop quick visits to dispensaries from criminals along the I-5 corridor. Dispensaries could also be banned within 1,000 feet of the Jackson County Community Justice Transition Center outside Talent. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous .       By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 5:55 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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