Page 32 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County
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CHAPTER 2: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SECTOR
Principal Operator Profile Marijuana as a Farm Crop
According to NASS , the farm In November, 2014, Oregon
35
operator is the person who voters approved Ballot
runs the farm, making the Measure 91, legalizing
day-to-day management deci- marijuana for recreational
sions. The operator could be an purposes. The Measure
owner, hired manager, tenant, provided for the personal
and/or a partner. possession, cultivation,
and use of marijuana for
In Washington County in 2012, people 21 and older, and tasked the Oregon Liquor Control Commission
the average age of principal (OLCC) with creating a regulatory and licensing system for the growing,
farm operators was 59.3 years. processing, distribution and sale of recreational marijuana. Further
About 94 percent of these were legislation and rulemaking made it clear that marijuana grown for any
Caucasian, and only about 17 purpose is considered a farm crop under state law.
percent were female. Anecdot-
ally, there are indications that Prior to the ballot measure, limited marijuana production (growing)
the demographic profile of sec- had been occurring under the Medical Marijuana program. Growing
ondary operators may be more marijuana for the recreational market became legal as of January 1,
diverse in age, gender and race. 2016, though permit approvals from the Oregon Liquor Control Com-
mission (OLCC) did not begin until late April, 2016. Prior to OLCC per-
The total number of farm oper- mit approval, a Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) is required
ators in Washington County has from the local jurisdiction. As of May 6, 2016, the Washington County
declined since 1997. However, Department of Land Use and Transportation had received 117 requests
the percentage of operators for a LUCS for proposed marijuana businesses. The great majority of
drawing a primary source of in-
come from the farm increased these were for growing operations – both indoor and outdoor – located
in 2007 and remained steady outside the Urban Growth Boundary.
through 2012. This is a positive Marijuana is considered a farm crop, with implications both for where
trend, since it means fewer op- it can be grown and “right to farm” and other protections. Given its
erators need to work off of the status as a farm crop, and the number of applications for growing
farm in order to earn a living.
operations that are in the OLCC permit process, marijuana production is
likely to have a significant economic impact on the agricultural sector
For more information, visit:
www.ers.usda.gov/topics/ throughout the state.
farm-economy/farm-house- At this time the potential impact both on land cover and market value
hold-well-being/glossary.aspx
of crops in Washington County is unknown.
35 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
2012 Census of Agriculture.
28 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY
