PRINEVILLE, OR -- Crook County Commissioners voted Wednesday not to allow any marijuana businesses within unincorporated areas. The unanimous vote came after public testimony during a packed County Court meeting.

Commissioner Ken Fahlgren explains what the decision means, "We did vote on and approved our ordinance prohibiting the operation of six licensed and registered marijuana businesses and declaring an emergency. Declaring an emergency means that starts today [Wednesday] with our signatures; and that we will not allow in our county, all of these six items." That list includes medical marijuana processing sites and dispensaries, recreational marijuana producers and processors and recreational wholesalers and retailers. The ban does not include any businesses within the Prineville city limits. Currently there is one medical marijuana dispensary operating near the Prineville Airport. 

Retired Circuit Court Judge Gary Thompson spent 11 years overseeing the county's drug court. He brought the issue to Councilors, saying he's seen the problems drugs inflict on the community. "Most of the people were addicted to methamphetamine, heroin or cocaine; but they were also addicted to marijuana. And, the drug they had the most difficult time giving up was marijuana. Marijuana is addictive; it addicts 9% of adults and 17% of teens," Thompson tells KBND. 

Following the vote, Thompson said, "I'm pleased. It took courage, but it also followed the vote of the Crook County voters."

Because more than 55% of those in Crook County voted against Measure 91, the County Court was allowed by state law to ban commercial operations without further ballot measures.