The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Anne Basker Auditorium in Grants Pass to review proposed amendments to the county code regulating marijuana businesses. Recent information confirms that the hearing will address a policy change that would significantly reduce the number of legal cannabis grow operations allowed in the county.
According to details confirmed by a member of the Rural Planning Commission (RPC), the proposed amendment to the newly drafted Chapter 19.99B of Title 19 would establish a population-based cap on grow sites. Specifically, it would allow one licensed grow for every 7,500 residents over the age of 21 in Josephine County.
Current estimates indicate the county has approximately one grow per every 255 adults over the age of 21, meaning the proposed rule would substantially decrease the number of permitted operations. The new code language was recently approved by the RPC and is now being presented to the Board of Commissioners for public hearing and final consideration.
The public notice issued by the county did not include specific information about the content of the proposed amendment, referring only to general “text amendments” related to marijuana businesses. It did, however, state that possible actions at the hearing may include approval as submitted, approval with modifications, or denial of the proposal.
The hearing will be live-streamed on the county’s website and is open to all members of the public. Residents who wish to provide input are encouraged to attend or submit their comments in advance. The county has also indicated that the meeting location is accessible and that accommodation requests should be submitted at least 24 hours in advance.
The proposed grow limit is one of the most significant changes to local cannabis regulations in recent years and could have long-term implications for land use, licensing, and compliance in Josephine County.
At this time, enforcement capacity for marijuana-related land use violations remains a challenge in the county. Josephine County currently does not employ dedicated code enforcement officers, which may affect how such regulations are implemented if adopted.
The Board of Commissioners—Chair Andreas Blech, Vice Chair Chris Barnett, and Commissioner Ron Smith—will consider the proposal following public input. Final decisions are expected to be made during or following the hearing, depending on the outcome of deliberations.