Council Declines to Put Commercial Cannabis on November Ballot

The Hermiston City Council voted 7-1 during Monday’s regular meeting to take no action on drafting and submitting a commercial cannabis measure for voters’ consideration on the November ballot.

Hermiston voters affirmed a local ban on commercial marijuana sales in 2016 after a statewide measure legalized marijuana sales and use in 2014. The concept of bringing a measure to Hermiston voters was discussed again in 2023 as part of the city’s potential tax revenue options.

During open public comment at Monday’s meeting, representatives from the Hermiston School Board, Umatilla School Board, Good Shepherd Health System Board, and the Good Shepherd Community Foundation Board spoke against a measure because of marijuana use’s negative impact on youth and public health. Several other individuals testified in favor and against a ballot measure.

Though the city will not pursue a ballot measure, citizen initiative petitions are available to residents during even-numbered years. A chief petitioner would need to collect approximately 1,625 signatures from Hermiston residents before June 7 to get a measure on the November 2024 ballot.