Josephine County commissioners on Thursday adopted amendments to the county’s land-development code that create a new chapter for marijuana businesses and remove a redundant compliance chapter from the code.

The board adopted ordinance 2025‑003, which places marijuana-business standards into Title 19 and creates chapter 19.998, and then approved ordinance 2025‑004 to repeal chapter 5.35. James Black, community development planner, told the board the item had been the subject of multiple hearings over the last year and said the ordinance would take effect on Feb. 11, 2026, if approved.

During public testimony Patrick Rooney of Grants Pass said he is concerned about marijuana’s community effects and urged churches and local groups to be involved. “It’s been bothering me a long time,” Rooney said, describing personal observations about substance use and community impacts. Judy Arons asked whether county staff coordinated with law enforcement; Commissioner Smith responded that the sheriff had been consulted and supported the changes.

Legal counsel Leah Harper explained the technical reason for the repeal: because rules were relocated into Title 19 by the earlier ordinance, chapter 5.35 must be removed to avoid duplication. Commissioner Black described the adoption as the culmination of a lengthy process and encouraged earlier public engagement on future, significant ordinances.

Both ordinances passed on unanimous roll-call votes, 3–0. The county clerk will publish the ordinances and the effective date noted by planning staff.