BEND, OR -- Reaction to the county's decision to not allow marijuana-related businesses on rural farmland was clearly divided. Lindsey Pate operates a small medical marijuana growing operation. “I mean I’m devastated. We’ve essentially been waiting for the regulations to come out because we do want to enter the recreational market. We see it as a huge opportunity for us, especially as a small family-owned operation.” She adds, “It’s so hard to hear when you’ve worked so hard to be a transparent grower, it’s so hard to hear that we’re going to have to wait longer to hear if this is something we can or cannot do.”
County resident Chris Jewell applauds the 90-day opt out but thinks it’s not enough. “Well I’m very positive to opting out. I think they could have given it some more time. I think 90-days is a little short.” But, she's cautious about the future, “I get the impression they do not want this to go to a vote in November and I question why? They need to hear the people instead of just let five or six people make the decision for all of us.”
A number of marijuana growers that gathered after the meeting were clearly unhappy with the decision.
