Winston council upholds moratorium on new recreational marijuana licenses after appeal hearing

The Winston City Council affirmed an ordinance that places a moratorium on any new or additional recreational marijuana business licenses after an appealed application prompted a required public hearing. The council closed the hearing and voted to keep the ordinance in place.

City staff Thomas McIntosh, representing the city in the hearing, summarized the ordinance and its rationale and said the appeal was timely. McIntosh said the city’s ordinance was grounded in the Winston municipal code and staff recommended affirming the moratorium, citing three reasons: the city’s local code authority, concern about market saturation, and possible cultural impacts on the city’s relatively large senior population.

Appellant Zach Collier, who identified himself as a business owner operating stores in the region, told the council the moratorium “permanently prevents any new recreational marijuana facilities from being issued in Winston” and argued that the ordinance effectively “grants one existing business a permanent monopoly.” Collier said House Bill 4121 limits state OLCC-issued licenses in certain population bands but does not authorize cities to impose a permanent moratorium; he urged the council to consider zoning and reasonable operational standards instead of a permanent ban.

During public comment, Felicia Matthews, a resident who said she lives in the 10 Mile area, opposed another store in the small, older community and questioned whether the applicant lived in Winston. Crystal Balser, who identified herself as affiliated with Emerald Triangle and an employee at a Roseburg dispensary, spoke in favor of the applicant’s approach and described the business as professional and educational.

Council members questioned notice and outreach procedures; staff said the city conducted multiple public hearings, mailed notices where possible, and attempted outreach to existing OLCC licensees. Staff and council discussed population thresholds cited in state law (staff referenced a 7,500 population threshold) and examples from other cities such as Redmond and Culver. After debate, a council member moved to affirm the ordinance; the motion carried by voice vote and the ordinance remained in effect.

Next steps: the ordinance stays in place while the council monitors how the local regulatory approach functions in the community.