The Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s online community survey (http://www.marijuana.oregon.gov) has closed, giving the new pot regulators plenty to think about.

The nonscientific survey was intended to find out what is on Oregonians’ minds as marijuana approaches legal status.

The survey asked readers to rank five subjects by how concerned they are: Marketing to kids, keeping retail marijuana outlets away from schools, DUI standards, quality control, and restricting recreational marijuana licenses to Oregon residents.

According to OLCC spokeswomann Karynn Fish, more than 16,000 people answered the survey. Over 7,500 signed up for email updates from the state since the legalize pot measure won in November 2014.

It was all about “asking Oregonians to share their hopes and concerns about the coming legal market for recreational marijuana.”

When the survey launched, OLCC Chairman Rob Patridge said: “We need to hear from community members, parents, law enforcement, people who want to grow or sell recreational marijuana, and local governments. We want to know your priorities. What should marijuana regulation look like in your community?”

The survey is to help plan a statewide listening tour to be announced later in January, which will visit nine to 12 Oregon communities during a month.

Respondents also were given an open-ended space to voice any other concerns. The listening tour will involve public meetings that begin with a primer on the new law, followed by breakout sessions (with potential writing exercises), followed by an open mic for questions and comments to new pot boss Tom Burns.

Burns is leading the agency’s implementation of Measure 91. He most recently served as the Director of Pharmacy Programs at the Oregon Health Authority since 2008, and oversaw the implementation of Oregon’s medical marijuana dispensary program.

OLCC’s Fish said results of the survey would be available online the week beginning Jan. 26.

After the listening tour, citizens can still have their voices heard at monthly commission meetings, as well as at the regular rules advisory committee meetings. The committee will be set up in March 2015. The process is expected to wrap up in November 2015.

Under the new law, possession of recreational marijuana becomes legal on July 1 of this year. The OLCC must begin accepting applications for commercial licenses next January, with retail stores to open by late 2016.

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