COVE – It’s official – no marijuana will be sold legally in Cove for recreational purposes.

The Cove City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday opting out of Measure 91, the measure Oregon voters passed in 2014 legalizing the sale and production of marijuana for recreational purposes.

The ordinance was passed following a second reading of the ordinance at the council meeting. The first reading of the ordinance was conducted a week earlier.

Passage of the ordinance, which took effect immediately because of an emergency clause, means the city will meet the state’s late December deadline for opting out of Measure 91.

The council voted aftertaking input from a packedaudience of at last 30 residents during its meeting at Cove City Hall.

Heidi Van Schoonhoven of Cove spoke in support of allowing the sale of recreational marijuana. She noted that cities that do not opt out will receive marijuana tax revenue from the state. She said this could provide a significant boost to Cove’s limited budget.

“We are sitting on an underground river of gold,” Van Schoonhoven said.

She said that if a marijuana shop were to open in Cove she believes people running it would be careful to make sure that none would be sold to minors because of tight state security rules. Van Schoonhoven said she doubts that anyone selling marijuana illegally now in Cove is “carding” young people to make sure they are not minors.

The majority of those who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting said they opposed allowing the sale of marijuana in Cove.

Bob Brown of Cove said it would cause problems that would make Cove a less pleasant place to live.

“I love the quality of life in Cove. Allowing a (marijuana) dispensary to operate would be a mistake,” Brown said.

Dan Landa of Cove said it would be very unfortunate if Cove became known for marijuana. He would rather have the community known for its annual summer cherry festival.

Bob Myers of Cove also spoke out against marijuana.

“I’m totally against it,” Myers said.

Myers said he believes any additional money the city would get by allowing marijuana to be sold in Cove “would not justify its sale.”

Chris Barreto of Cove said that big problems are emerging in states where the sale of marijuana has been legalized before Oregon. Barreto noted that overdoses among children are increasing significantly because they are eating marijuana edibles, foods in which marijuana has been placed.

Cove is among the municipalities that have the option of banning the sale and production of marijuana under House Bill 3400, which was passed earlier this year. Municipalities have this option if they are in counties, such as Union County, in which at least 55 percent of those voting cast ballots against Measure 91 in 2014. Approximately 59 percent of Union County voters opposed Measure 91. Cove voters rejected Measure 91 174 to 104 in 2014.

Following the meeting, Van Schoonhoven said she was disappointed by the council’s decision to adopt the ordinance because of the tax revenue the city will lose in the long run.

“I feel it is unfortunate given the city’s limited budget,” Van Schoonhoven said.