December 14, 2021 3:20 a.m.

On Monday, the Oregon State Legislature approved funding to combat illegal cannabis operations in the state.

SB 893 provides $25 million to local law enforcement agencies to address unlawful marijuana cultivation or distribution operations.

Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp said, “It’s clear that law enforcement needs more help to stop these dangerous illegal operations. This package gives our county partners the resources they need to hire the law enforcement and water masters to oversee the huge task they have in front of them”.

Democratic State Senator Jeff Golden said “Illegal cannabis operations in Southern Oregon have been using our limited water supply, abusing local workers, threatening neighbors and negatively impacting businesses run by legal marijuana growers. This is urgent funding we need right now to protect our agriculture industry, a pillar of Oregon’s economy and the Rogue Valley’s quality of life”.

SB 893 passed on unanimous votes in both the Senate and the House. Lawmakers covered a number of other topics in bills passed in Monday’s one-day special session.