Jacob Bell
New Member
YAKIMA, Wash. - Collective gardens and dispensaries for medical marijuana would be illegal under a proposed ordinance being considered by the Yakima Planning Commission.
The commission will hold a public hearing on the matter at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.
The City Council will hold its own hearing on the commission's recommendation on Jan. 17, just before a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana gardens expires.
The commission is expected to recommend that the city ban collective gardens or dispensaries as long as they violate state or federal law.
The commission will subsequently consider zoning standards for collective gardens should they become legal.
In July, Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed a law that would have allowed both dispensaries and collective gardens. She left in place the provision for gardens, giving cities the chance to regulate how they should be authorized and operated.
However, both the state and local governments say they are concerned that government employees could run afoul of federal law by being involved in that process.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, a long-held position that Gregoire recently petitioned the federal government to change.
The city's action is not intended to affect the state's medical marijuana law for individual patients.
Source: Yakima Herald-Republic (WA)
Copyright: 2011 Yakima Herald-Republic
Contact: opinion@Yakima-Herald.com
Website: Yakima Herald-Republic - WA News, Sports, Classifieds, Homes, Cars, Jobs, Obituaries
The commission will hold a public hearing on the matter at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.
The City Council will hold its own hearing on the commission's recommendation on Jan. 17, just before a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana gardens expires.
The commission is expected to recommend that the city ban collective gardens or dispensaries as long as they violate state or federal law.
The commission will subsequently consider zoning standards for collective gardens should they become legal.
In July, Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed a law that would have allowed both dispensaries and collective gardens. She left in place the provision for gardens, giving cities the chance to regulate how they should be authorized and operated.
However, both the state and local governments say they are concerned that government employees could run afoul of federal law by being involved in that process.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, a long-held position that Gregoire recently petitioned the federal government to change.
The city's action is not intended to affect the state's medical marijuana law for individual patients.
Source: Yakima Herald-Republic (WA)
Copyright: 2011 Yakima Herald-Republic
Contact: opinion@Yakima-Herald.com
Website: Yakima Herald-Republic - WA News, Sports, Classifieds, Homes, Cars, Jobs, Obituaries
