Jackson County’s moratorium on the issuance of new grower’s licenses will continue into 2023 after the Board of Commissioners unanimously passed Order No. 215-22, the Order Declaring a Local State of Emergency Related to Cannabis.
With the passage of SB 1564 in 2022, under OR Administrative Rule 603-048-4010 a county may declare a state of emergency related to cannabis and request that the Oregon Department of Agriculture deny the issuance of grower licenses for applicants submitting applications on or after January 2022. The declaration for a state of emergency lasts for the duration of the entire hemp growing season. However, those with grower licenses in 2021 or 2020 or those seeking to renew their existing licenses will not be affected, as the moratorium only applies to new growers.
Jackson County’s Order follows a similar Order issued in March of 2022 by the Commissioners, declaring a state of emergency to deny new applications under ORS 571.281, which expired on December 31, 2022. The County cited numerous reasons for renewing its state of emergency order, including the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens and the lack of revenue to address the impacts of cannabis production and processing.
Jackson County is one of two counties with a 2023 moratorium on new growers’ licenses, joining Douglas County in notifying ODA of its state of emergency before the January 1st, 2023 deadline.
Have questions about SB 1564 and what it means for your business? Please schedule a consultation with EARTH Law, LLC to answer any questions regarding these updates, or for help with your 2023 license applications. You can contact us by email at info@earthlawllc.com or by telephone at 541-632-3946.