Drug manufacturers have to follow all sorts of rules to keep their products and the public safe. But the rules in Oregon for medical marijuana growers create secrets where there shouldn’t be secrets.

For instance, people who grow medical marijuana in Deschutes County must comply with rules for odor, noise, screening and fencing, water, security cameras and secure waste disposal.

The county, though, doesn’t know where these grow operations are. The Oregon Health Authority says privacy concerns prohibit it from sending the county a list of grow locations.

The Legislature needs to take up the issue in 2019. It should give the OHA clear direction that it’s OK to give regulatory agencies and law enforcement lists of medical marijuana grow sites.

That would enable the county to do proper inspections. It would make things easier for law enforcement when they get a complaint. Now the county and law enforcement have to wait for an individual complaint before getting information from OHA.

It’s not good policy for the state to conceal drug manufacturer locations. Deschutes County officials have raised this issue again and again.

It’s time the Legislature listened.