BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners are starting to consider whether to allow marijuana businesses in rural areas. They listened to hours of testimony during two public hearings last week. During Monday's Board of Commissioners meeting, they reflected on what they heard and where they want to go with the process.

Commissioner Tammy Baney said, "I'm not in favor of a blanket opt-out. I think the easiest thing we can do is a complete opt-out. The hardest thing, and I think the right thing to do is to parse through this and craft a decision that's right for Deschutes County. I think we can find some middle ground."

Commissioner Alan Unger agreed, but added, "I don't want to take [an opt-out] off the table. The challenge I see is then we have a vote, then a campaign. Do we want to go down that road or not? I'm not happy with that."

They plan to devote their September second work session on deciding how to proceed. Commissioners are considering forming a citizen committee to help give them further input.