Jacob Bell
New Member
YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Yakima City Council will accept public comment tonight regarding an emergency moratorium on medical marijuana gardens in Yakima.
The hearing is required in order for the city to continue the six-month moratorium, which gives time for the development of any zoning regulations that may be required. City Council adopted the moratorium last month.
A memo from the city legal department pointed out that a new state law doesn't govern such things as how close a marijuana garden can be to schools or provide rules about the management of gardens, including their density on a piece of land.
Yakima's moratorium and others like it adopted by cities around the state were prompted by Gov. Chris Gregoire's partial veto last month of legislation intended to establish the framework for medical marijuana dispensaries. She retained elements that allow medical marijuana patients to run collective gardens.
But Gregoire cut state-licensed dispensaries out of the bill because of concerns that state workers involved in the registration program could be liable under federal law, which bans marijuana possession, growing or distribution. The state law took effect July 22.
The mixed decision puts cities across the state in the conflicting position of needing to implement the law while waiting for the federal government and the state to talk over their differences.
The Ellensburg City Council has gone a bit farther than some other cities by earlier this month approving an emergency ordinance allowing medical cannabis collective gardens while it evaluates a more comprehensive solution. The city approved a six-month moratorium on cannabis dispensaries.
Officials in Wapato are weighing a moratorium.
Yakima's emergency act is intended to prevent residents from starting a garden and then seeking a waiver from the zoning regulation, claiming they are exempt.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: yakima-herald.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Yakima Herald-Republic
Website: Medical pot moratorium on Yakima council's agenda
The hearing is required in order for the city to continue the six-month moratorium, which gives time for the development of any zoning regulations that may be required. City Council adopted the moratorium last month.
A memo from the city legal department pointed out that a new state law doesn't govern such things as how close a marijuana garden can be to schools or provide rules about the management of gardens, including their density on a piece of land.
Yakima's moratorium and others like it adopted by cities around the state were prompted by Gov. Chris Gregoire's partial veto last month of legislation intended to establish the framework for medical marijuana dispensaries. She retained elements that allow medical marijuana patients to run collective gardens.
But Gregoire cut state-licensed dispensaries out of the bill because of concerns that state workers involved in the registration program could be liable under federal law, which bans marijuana possession, growing or distribution. The state law took effect July 22.
The mixed decision puts cities across the state in the conflicting position of needing to implement the law while waiting for the federal government and the state to talk over their differences.
The Ellensburg City Council has gone a bit farther than some other cities by earlier this month approving an emergency ordinance allowing medical cannabis collective gardens while it evaluates a more comprehensive solution. The city approved a six-month moratorium on cannabis dispensaries.
Officials in Wapato are weighing a moratorium.
Yakima's emergency act is intended to prevent residents from starting a garden and then seeking a waiver from the zoning regulation, claiming they are exempt.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: yakima-herald.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Yakima Herald-Republic
Website: Medical pot moratorium on Yakima council's agenda
