Jacob Bell
New Member
PORT ORCHARD, WA – Former Port Orchard City Councilman Tom Stansbery traveled to Seattle during his final illness to obtain the medical cannabis that relieved his pain and discomfort, his widow Christine Stansbery told the City Council on Tuesday.
Mrs. Stansbery testified during a public hearing at which the council considered whether to extend the moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries it imposed in February, when the Legislature was debating a law revising the rules. The council ultimately voted 6-1 Tuesday to extend the moratorium for six months, despite the objections of Stansbery and others.
"You have a unique opportunity that so many municipalities are sidestepping to do something good for people," Stansbery said.
Others at the hearing also testified against extending the moratorium, including Kris Rundquist of Tacoma Greenthumb. Rundquist abandoned his plans for a dispensary within city limits and now operates a referral service, hooking up people who grow marijuana with authorized patients willing to contribute to the cost of supplies.
"I'm here to tell you guys there's hundreds of patients inside the city who are looking for a place to find their prescriptions," Rundquist said.
But at least one person in the audience urged the council to stay the course.
"I would like to see you keep that moratorium in place," said resident Mary Felts, who is worried about abuse of the medical marijuana law.
City Attorney Greg Jacoby told the council that extending the moratorium would give the city's planning commission time to review zoning and other regulations, now that the new law has taken effect. Looking at the options would not compel the council to adopt laws condoning dispensaries, he said.
Jacoby said the ordinance before the council did not address a provision of the new law for collective gardens.
Outside the meeting, Rundquist said he knows of about 200 people in Kitsap County who stand ready to establish collective gardens.
Jacoby told the council he would gather information on the gardens for a council meeting next week.
Councilman Fred Olin asked about the federal stance on state and local governments' regulation of medical marijuana.
Marijuana, medical or otherwise, remains illegal under federal law, Jacoby said. But he suggested some patients may fly under the radar.
"I think they have been a little ambiguous about individual users of medical marijuana who have been consistent with a state's law," Jacoby said. "I would be very surprised to see any prosecution under that circumstance."
As for whether the city could be seen as complicit for enacting regulations, Jacoby said, "If the council chooses to adopt regulations, we should have that discussion."
Councilman Fred Chang urged city planners to move forward quickly with analysis of what zoning and other regulations might apply to dispensaries. He tried to pin down an earlier deadline for a resolution of the issue and suggested his support for allowing dispensaries in the city.
"I also want to commend Chris Stansbery for putting a face on this," Chang said. "This really drives home there are people in the city who are in pain, who have to go to the city (Seattle), who have to go to drug dealers or ask their kids' friends, and I think that's really sad."
Chang voted against extending the moratorium. Voting for the measure were Rob Putaansu, Carolyn Powers, Jerry Childs, Fred Olin, Jim Colebank and John Clauson.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: kitsapsun.com
Author: Chris Henry
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The E.W. Scripps Co.
Website: Port Orchard extends moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries
Mrs. Stansbery testified during a public hearing at which the council considered whether to extend the moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries it imposed in February, when the Legislature was debating a law revising the rules. The council ultimately voted 6-1 Tuesday to extend the moratorium for six months, despite the objections of Stansbery and others.
"You have a unique opportunity that so many municipalities are sidestepping to do something good for people," Stansbery said.
Others at the hearing also testified against extending the moratorium, including Kris Rundquist of Tacoma Greenthumb. Rundquist abandoned his plans for a dispensary within city limits and now operates a referral service, hooking up people who grow marijuana with authorized patients willing to contribute to the cost of supplies.
"I'm here to tell you guys there's hundreds of patients inside the city who are looking for a place to find their prescriptions," Rundquist said.
But at least one person in the audience urged the council to stay the course.
"I would like to see you keep that moratorium in place," said resident Mary Felts, who is worried about abuse of the medical marijuana law.
City Attorney Greg Jacoby told the council that extending the moratorium would give the city's planning commission time to review zoning and other regulations, now that the new law has taken effect. Looking at the options would not compel the council to adopt laws condoning dispensaries, he said.
Jacoby said the ordinance before the council did not address a provision of the new law for collective gardens.
Outside the meeting, Rundquist said he knows of about 200 people in Kitsap County who stand ready to establish collective gardens.
Jacoby told the council he would gather information on the gardens for a council meeting next week.
Councilman Fred Olin asked about the federal stance on state and local governments' regulation of medical marijuana.
Marijuana, medical or otherwise, remains illegal under federal law, Jacoby said. But he suggested some patients may fly under the radar.
"I think they have been a little ambiguous about individual users of medical marijuana who have been consistent with a state's law," Jacoby said. "I would be very surprised to see any prosecution under that circumstance."
As for whether the city could be seen as complicit for enacting regulations, Jacoby said, "If the council chooses to adopt regulations, we should have that discussion."
Councilman Fred Chang urged city planners to move forward quickly with analysis of what zoning and other regulations might apply to dispensaries. He tried to pin down an earlier deadline for a resolution of the issue and suggested his support for allowing dispensaries in the city.
"I also want to commend Chris Stansbery for putting a face on this," Chang said. "This really drives home there are people in the city who are in pain, who have to go to the city (Seattle), who have to go to drug dealers or ask their kids' friends, and I think that's really sad."
Chang voted against extending the moratorium. Voting for the measure were Rob Putaansu, Carolyn Powers, Jerry Childs, Fred Olin, Jim Colebank and John Clauson.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: kitsapsun.com
Author: Chris Henry
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The E.W. Scripps Co.
Website: Port Orchard extends moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries
