CANYON CITY – The specter of legal pot, approved by voters in last week’s election, is stirring concern among local officials and speculation about the possibility of a local opt-out.

Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer, a vocal opponent during the campaign, said people came to his office in the days following the election, upset about the potential impacts on the county and its communities.

“I really don’t think the voters who passed this initiative could care what the ramifications are going to be …,” he said, adding they probably haven’t been concerned about rule violations to date in the state’s medical marijuana program.

He said he believes the taxpayers are in for a rude awakening when the bill comes in for the costs of treatment and other ripple effects from legalization.

Measure 91 sets out the framework for legalized recreational marijuana, but it doesn’t go into effect until next July. The delay is intended to give time for the OLCC and other agencies to prepare for implementation and regulation.

Grant County District Attorney Ryan Joslin said his office will continue prosecuting marijuana cases – both pending and new – under the existing law until the new measure takes effect.

Palmer was pleased the county’s voters rejected the measure.

Statewide, the measure was approved by 56 percent to 44 percent, while the county said no, 65 percent to 35 percent.

Palmer said some residents have suggested the county should be declared a “dry county” for marijuana, much as the city of Monmouth did for many years with alcohol. Monmouth residents voted to end the booze ban in 2002.

Grant County Judge Scott Myers said he’s received information from county counsel Ronald Yockim about the measure and its ramifications for local officials, as gathered by the city and county associations.

Myers, noting the measure “went down hard in Grant County,” has asked about the possibility for a local government to opt out.

Yockim suggested the only route appears to be a local option, through the initiative process, to prohibit marijuana licensees from operating in their boundaries. To get there, the county would need to pass an initiative at the next statewide general election – November 2016.

However, the timeline under Measure 91 means the OLCC would already be accepting license applications for nearly a year before such a ban goes into effect.

Yockim told Myers the League of Oregon Cities is seeking corrective legislation to keep licenses from being issued in jurisdictions that are considering an opt out.

Meanwhile, the OLCC said it will work with other state agencies to implement Measure 91.

The day after the election, Steven Marks, OLCC executive director, pledged a transparent process.

“As we move forward, we will focus on preventing marijuana sales to minors, protecting consumers through establishing standards and providing education, as well as supporting law enforcement in their efforts to prevent unlicensed sale and production of marijuana,” he said.

Starting next July, an individual will be able to legally possess up to 8 ounces of marijuana per residence, and grow up to four plants per residence.