LA PINE, OR -- The city of La Pine is considering a ban on recreational marijuana sales. City Councilors will decide whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to sell recreational pot after October first. They will also decide whether to ask voters to ban recreational sales permanently.

La Pine Mayor Ken Mulenex called for the work session, which was held earlier this week. "Nothing at any time had been said or brought up about recreational marijuana and that's why I asked for a special council work session to gather information and start thinking about what our efforts needed to be to bring it to the public and have a clear understanding and then take a vote one way or the other."

Mulenex tells KBND he's still undecided on the issue. "I look at the several issues around it: public safety, substance abuse and what the voters spoke before. Those are some of the things I have to come to grips with as we approach making some decisions about this."

The City Council will meet again September 9 to discuss how to proceed. Mayor Mulenex says, "It may be that we hear enough testimony that we need to have another meeting, or another discussion about it. But, it's very likely it could be voted on at our next meeting."

He says he's heard from a lot of people who want a ban. Councilors must decide on a moratorium within the month.