Growing number of Oregon cities, counties banning marijuana businesses



SALEM, Ore. (AP) — At least a dozen Oregon cities and counties have taken steps to ban marijuana businesses from their boundaries as the state prepares to begin retail sales in October.

Four counties and eight cities have informed the Oregon Liquor Control Commission that they'll be banning marijuana producers, processors, wholesalers and retailers. In some jurisdictions, the ban must go before voters.

Oregon lawmakers gave local governments the ability to keep out marijuana businesses, which were authorized by voters under last year's Measure 91.

Even in jurisdictions that opt out, adults can still grow and use marijuana subject to the same limits that apply in the rest of the state.

The cities opting out are: Ontario, Vale, Nyssa, Brownsville, Sandy, Island City, Sutherlin and Junction City. The counties are Douglas, Umatilla, Harney and Malheur.