March 3, 2025 3:40 a.m.

The Winston City Council will consider moving towards allowing recreational marijuana dispensaries in its city limits, as part of the council agenda on Monday night.

In 2015 Oregon legalized recreational dispensaries but cities and counties have the right to decide if they will allow them in their boundaries. In November of 2020, Winston voters said no to the idea with a vote of 45 percent in favor and 54 percent opposed.

Winston completed a 5-year budgetary analysis in early 2023. City Manager Thomas McIntosh said it determined that the general fund had some significant challenges that needed to be addressed. McIntosh said the public safety fee was increased by five dollars per month to sustain a sufficient level of service with the police department. Some significant capital projects were deferred for the entirety of the 23-24 fiscal cycle. McIntosh said staff have continued to search for viable additional revenue sources.

Notes to councilors said city staff began researching the potential advantages and disadvantages of recreational marijuana retailers again early this year. It was determined that allowing them and placing a 3 percent gross tax on retailers could yield between $60,000 and $120,000 per year for the city.

The city council is being asked to approve a resolution authorizing the city manager to prepare and process text amendments to the city’s municipal code to allow recreational marijuana retailers as a conditional use in General Commercial zoned properties.

A public hearing on the question will be held as part of the council meeting at 7:00 p.m. Due to the number of citizens expected to attend, the meeting has been moved to the Winston Community Center on Southeast Grape Avenue.

Other items are on the agenda as well.