Commissioners plan public hearing on adult‑use cannabis ordinance for unorganized territories

County staff presented a draft ordinance and application to allow adult‑use cannabis operations in the county’s unorganized territories and asked commissioners whether to schedule a public hearing.

Staff said the draft follows state Office of Cannabis Policy guidance and that the county must adopt an ordinance to ‘‘opt in’’ to permit adult‑use retail, cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities. Staff noted the county can set license fees and that one local applicant notified staff of readiness to apply. Staff proposed a public hearing at the next meeting to receive public input and consider whether the county should opt in and what fee structure to adopt.

Commissioners asked staff to advertise a hearing (seven days’ notice) and to bring back a final draft and fee schedule; staff also noted that appeals from licensing actions in unorganized territories would lead to superior court rather than a local appeals board because there is no municipal board of appeals in the unorganized territories.

Why it matters: Opting in would allow licensed adult‑use cannabis activity in unorganized areas of the county and establish local license fees and application review procedures; commissioners must decide whether to permit those activities in UT lands and set local licensing rules and fees.

Next steps: Staff will advertise a public hearing for the next meeting and include the applicant in the hearing to present details; commissioners will hear public comment and then consider whether to adopt the ordinance and application package.