Marion County wants to ask voters about psilocybin facilities
Marion County voters will be asked to weigh in on the citing of psilocybin facilities in unincorporated areas of the county (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Voters in Marion County will likely have the opportunity to ban psilocybin manufacturing and service centers in unincorporated areas of the county this coming November.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners moved forward Wednesday in the process of adopting an ordinance that would forward the question of whether psilocybin manufacturing and service centers should be permitted to voters.
“This is giving the opportunity for people to have their voice heard and it’s the right thing to do,” said Commissioner Colm Willis. Commissioners Danielle Bethell and Kevin Cameron were also in support.
In 2020, Oregon voters approved Measure 109 that legalized psilocybin manufacturing and services centers but allowed local governments to prohibit them within their jurisdictions. That means Marion County can ban facilities in unincorporated areas of the county.
Now ORS 475, the law allowing psilocybin manufacturing and service centers would not be relevant in unincorporated areas of Marion County if voters vote in favor of the question in November.
Both Linn County and Keizer City Council have referred similar questions to the ballot in November. On Wednesday, government relations manager for the county Tanisha Bush said it was worth noting that while Measure 109 passed statewide, it was not approved by voters in Marion County.
Election results show 78,389 or 49.42% of Marion County voters saying yes to Measure 109 and 80,216, or 50.58% opposed.
The commission will take up the matter again at its next meeting as a matter of procedure before it is forwarded to the November ballot.
-Caitlyn May
