BEND, OR -- Deschutes County’s marijuana regulations are again a hot election topic in the race for County Commissioner.

Tammy Baney’s challenger in the Republican Primary, Patti Adair, says the industry is hurting the county. Deschutes County Community Development Director Nick Lelack says a new Board of Commissioners could change the county’s overall approach, but it wouldn’t impact permits already granted. "The key is that, those that are approved or those that have already applied and are in the permitting process right now, there’s the ‘goal post rule.’ You have to comply with the regulations in place at the time you submitted your application. So, there’s not an ability to change the ones that are already in place or the ones that are in the pipeline now." And, he tells KBND News rolling back regulations altogether may not be practical and could have far-reaching ramifications, "If the county were to make a significant decision – and I’m not hearing this – to opt out, that could have other issues associated with the OLCC, whether they could approve relicensing those or not. That would certainly invite significant lawsuits for the county." 

Commissioner Tony DeBone’s Republican Primary opponent, Ed Barbeau, has said the county has been distracted by the Board’s focus on the industry and regulations. 

To listen to our full conversation with CDD Director Nick Lelack, visit our Podcast Page or click HERE.