Listening Tour March 2016

Benton County Listening Tour March 2016

In March 2016 the Benton County Planning Division and Public Health Department held a listening tour at locations around the county in Alpine, Adair, Wren, Alsea and Benton County Fairgrounds to gather public input on where and how commercial marijuana operations should be allowed in your community. A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated and shared their insights into the impacts of this new industry!

The law was enacted and cannot be changed at the local level.  Benton County Planning Division had been tasked by the Oregon State Legislature, Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and Benton County Board of Commissioners with identifying where the different types of Recreational Marijuana operations could be located in the County. Also, to determine if any impacts from these operations should be mitigated through land use review. Addressing where and how recreational marijuana could be allowed in Benton County was the best approach to ensure community livability, conservation of important resources and success of marijuana business operations