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On advice from its attorney, the Bremerton City Council on Wednesday night banned collective medical marijuana gardens authorized under a 2011 state law.
The council had previously passed moratoriums to delay a decision on the gardens, which allow patients who are authorized to use medical marijuana to band together to grow plants. But the council sided Wednesday with city attorneys, who advised that regulating and permitting the gardens might put city workers at odds with a federal government that views marijuana as illegal no matter the use.
Bremerton Assistant City Attorney Mark Koontz brought to the council concerns that government workers engaged in any activity related to regulating marijuana could be subject to prosecution by the federal government.
Ezra Eickmeyer, a lobbyist who has worked on medical marijuana legislation and runs a Silverdale clinic that authorizes medical marijuana patients, argued against the ban. He said the federal government hadn't prosecuted local and state government workers since the Civil War and felt the city was opening itself up to a lawsuit by banning collective gardens.
"To demonize and push those people outside of city limits ... is just wrong," he said.
The 2011 Legislature approved a law allowing collective gardens and several other medical marijuana reforms. Then-Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed many of those reforms, but signed into law the collective gardens provision.
The law allows collective medical marijuana gardens with up to 10 qualified patients and 45 plants per garden.
Other Puget Sound cities have responded in a variety of ways. Poulsbo recently extended its moratorium. Port Orchard and Auburn banned them, while Bellevue, Issaquah and Shoreline allow them.
Councilman Roy Runyon pleaded with his fellow council members to extend the moratorium to give a new Congress and new Gov. Jay Inslee time to act. His motion died.
Councilman Adam Brockus supported the ban but reminded his colleagues and those present that the ban applies to collective grows and not ones inside individual homes.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: kitsapsun.com
Author: Josh Farley
Contact: Staff and Contacts for Kitsap Sun
Website: Bremerton bans collective medical marijuana gardens » Kitsap Sun
The council had previously passed moratoriums to delay a decision on the gardens, which allow patients who are authorized to use medical marijuana to band together to grow plants. But the council sided Wednesday with city attorneys, who advised that regulating and permitting the gardens might put city workers at odds with a federal government that views marijuana as illegal no matter the use.
Bremerton Assistant City Attorney Mark Koontz brought to the council concerns that government workers engaged in any activity related to regulating marijuana could be subject to prosecution by the federal government.
Ezra Eickmeyer, a lobbyist who has worked on medical marijuana legislation and runs a Silverdale clinic that authorizes medical marijuana patients, argued against the ban. He said the federal government hadn't prosecuted local and state government workers since the Civil War and felt the city was opening itself up to a lawsuit by banning collective gardens.
"To demonize and push those people outside of city limits ... is just wrong," he said.
The 2011 Legislature approved a law allowing collective gardens and several other medical marijuana reforms. Then-Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed many of those reforms, but signed into law the collective gardens provision.
The law allows collective medical marijuana gardens with up to 10 qualified patients and 45 plants per garden.
Other Puget Sound cities have responded in a variety of ways. Poulsbo recently extended its moratorium. Port Orchard and Auburn banned them, while Bellevue, Issaquah and Shoreline allow them.
Councilman Roy Runyon pleaded with his fellow council members to extend the moratorium to give a new Congress and new Gov. Jay Inslee time to act. His motion died.
Councilman Adam Brockus supported the ban but reminded his colleagues and those present that the ban applies to collective grows and not ones inside individual homes.
News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: kitsapsun.com
Author: Josh Farley
Contact: Staff and Contacts for Kitsap Sun
Website: Bremerton bans collective medical marijuana gardens » Kitsap Sun
