PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A new bill that would allow Oregon law enforcement to destroy hoop houses at illegal marijuana grows was discussed during the public hearing portion of an Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Feb. 18.

Senate Bill 162 seeks to give law enforcement the authority to use heavy machinery to destroy the hoop houses outdoor structures used to farm marijuana plants. The destruction of these hoop houses would only be permitted while authorities are executing search warrants at illegal marijuana grows.

Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel submitted a public statement on behalf of the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association and the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, asking the committee to support SB 162. Daniel said that the bill would help protect law enforcement officers tasked with destroying the illegal marijuana farms.

“Illegal marijuana grows have been a persistent issue across the state, creating hazardous conditions for officers tasked with enforcing the law,” Daniel’s statement reads. “Currently, officers must manually remove illegal plants from hoop houses, exposing them to toxic pesticides, harmful chemicals, and extreme environmental conditions. These exposures have led to serious health risks, including rashes, respiratory issues, heat stroke, and dehydration. Because heavy machinery cannot be used without damaging hoop houses, officers are forced into direct contact with these dangerous elements.”

However, some members of the public, like licensed cannabis producer Les Helgeson of Tillamook County, expressed concerns that authorities could destroy hoop houses on properties where cannabis growers are not breaking any laws.

“It appears that the destruction of hoop houses provision is an arguably underhanded means of avoiding liability for bogus warrants the like[s] of which would be encouraged if the section is passed into law,” Helgeson’s public statement reads. “I otherwise support the other elements of the bill, and it is a shame that the inclusion of a dubious provision threatens their passage.”

In its current form, the omnibus bill would also require the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to make the map of licensed industrial hemp operations and marijuana production premises available to the Water Resources Department and the Department of Environmental Quality. It would repeal the prohibition on a marijuana retailer locating within 1,000 feet of a public preschool or kindergarten. The bill would also allow the State Department of Agriculture to inspect biomass and processed industrial hemp stored at licensed industrial hemp businesses.