Be wary of marijuana

Deschutes County and its proudly protected communities of Bend, Sisters, Redmond, Terrebonne and La Pine have a reputation across the country as being among the most desirable places to live and work in the country.

Business and industry vie for the opportunity to move their entire operations to this area and they bring their entire employee staff with them.

It is an extraordinary phenomenon that comes as no accident. Our Oregon way of just saying no to short-term profits out of economic desperation and instead choosing long-term gains.

We have chosen most recently a University, a Facebook Data Center, a major airport expansion, an urban growth boundary expansion in Bend for residential housing growth.

Historically our biggest industry has been the destination resort industry. It is our biggest economic engine and the vehicle through which the outside world has been introduced to our beautiful Central Oregon. Deschutes County decided to turn around the standing joke "poverty with a view" and harvest that view for a new economy.

But the end of that era was just announced. It arrived through the defeat of the Thornburg Destination Resort Application. As a result of the federal listing of the bull trout and all that ensues from that listing combined with the results of a new scientific study of the middle and lower basin converged in a two-punch knockout for any future growth in the basin involving major water extraction.

And now comes what Governor Tom McCall said would always come knocking at Oregon's door, seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of Oregon's economic, environmental, and social health.

Today it is the recreational marijuana-growing industry that has come knocking at Oregon's door.

Thanks to our extraordinary land-use system, which has evolved from SB100 to the well-worn path of citizen involvement at the grassroots level forming the first plank of scrutiny to all new land-use proposals. The rural community came forward and took their place in the process.

The hundreds of testimonials, written and oral, accompanied by rich data and scientific studies relevant to the analysis of the impact of allowing this new industry into Deschutes County were submitted. The quality of the public input was extraordinary and compelling.

Of particular value, the Colorado reports submitted which provide us with hard data on the economic costs, the property devaluations, the social and environmental impacts since the Cannabis-Industrial Complex established itself. Eerily similar to Oregon's enabling legislation, Colorado had just six months to create a legal and regulatory framework for the growing, sale and distribution of recreational cannabis.

The results for Colorado are there for all to see and know what to expect as the probable outcome for Oregon. The reports of problems with Colorado marijuana greenhouses read like the oral testimony from this community. And we have only just experienced a small taste of the industry from the early arrivers who have rushed in, bought property, set up operations and appropriated our federally and state regulated basin waters for their recreational marijuana growing.

The mantle of decision-making now passes to our Deschutes County Commissioners. They must choose the path which will forever mark the future of this region.

If they choose to allow and regulate the grow industry, can the county guarantee that a no-net-loss standard applied to the environment, the property tax base, the existing businesses and users can be guaranteed?

Does that choice fit in with our Oregon way?

Can our Deschutes County Commissioners guarantee that what has happened in Colorado won't happen here?

Today's choice reminds us of when it all began; Governor Tom McCall's inaugural speech upon taking the oath of office January 9, 1967: Health, economic strength, recreation - in fact, the entire outlook and image of the state - are tied inseparably to environment. Water, air, land and scenic pollution threaten these and other values in Oregon...