SALEM, Ore. — Oregon cities and counties would be allowed to ban medical marijuana stores, but only temporarily, under a bill approved Wednesday in the Oregon House.
Lawmakers voted to give cities and counties permanent authority to control things such as the hours and locations of the medical pot outlets. Local governments that don’t want the facilities would be able to ban them until May 2015.
Supporters say the bill gives the cities and counties some clarity about their authority to regulate the pot facilities, but the local governments and law enforcement lobbies say they’ll continue to push for permanent bans.
The Legislature last year authorized medical marijuana dispensaries, but some cities and counties want to keep them from opening up in their areas. Several jurisdictions have already passed legislation banning them and others are considering similar measures.