Keep local approach to medical marijuana unified City, county taking right track by conferring on the issue H&N View It simply makes good sense for the city of Klamath Falls and Klamath County to be in general agreement on how to treat medical marijuana dispensaries. Talks have begun between the jurisdictions and there are differences at the outset because the city requires a businesses license for new businesses and the county doesnt. The state will start issuing licenses March 1, which will mark a shift in Oregons legal attitude toward medical marijuana. Until this year, the state only allowed medical marijuana to be grown by the person using it or by someone else doing it on a no-profit basis. The 2013 Legislature, however, approved a change to a dispensary system. Its supporters, who didnt include any local legislators, argued that the move would make it easier for patients to get medical marijuana and discourage development of a black market. Such a system is contrary to federal law, but specifically allowed under the new state law and the federal government has said its not likely to interfere. (Yes, it sounds pretty strange to us, too, but it appears to be the law of the land, at least for the time being.) Local jurisdictions do have control over what they are willing to allow, though, and thats where Klamath Falls, Klamath County and many other cities and counties find themselves now, figuring out how much control is enough. The Klamath Falls urban area is a mixture of land both inside and outside the city limits, and its often hard for a person to know which jurisdiction he or she is in and what laws apply. Some of the maps available dont always make it clear exactly where the boundaries are and finding out for sure may require a trip to city or county offices. In Klamath Falls you cant always trust your eyes based on what areas look like. Some of the most heavily populated residential real estate is actually outside the city limits in the south suburbs, and under county, rather than city, jurisdiction. Klamath Falls weird city limit pattern encourages confusion. Its developed into a “peninsula” pattern, with large parcels of city area surrounded on three sides by non-city area and connected to other parts of the city by narrow corridors. The awkward shape reflects how willing land owners and residents in any particular area to annex to the city. Some are, some arent. Given the intermingling of boundaries and the confusion it fosters in general, the city and county should work together as best they can on what could be a controversial issue. Local government is already complicated enough without adding to it. — The H&N view represents the opinion of the Herald and News editorial board: Publisher Heidi Wright, Editor Gerry O’Brien and Forum Editor Pat Bushey, who wrote this editorial. Community advisers to the board are Jeff Ball, Chip Massie and Sara Marcus.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:03:30 +0000
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