Jacob Bell
New Member
Sammamish, WA--Sammamish has temporarily banned collective medical marijuana gardens in the city while they wait for lawyers or legislators hammer out conflicting law on the subject.
At their July 18 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved an emergency moratorium on collective marijuana gardens, which the state legislature recently approved for those prescribed the drug for medicinal purposes.
Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed portions of the law after receiving word from the U.S. Department of Justice saying that the law was in conflict with federal drug laws and that state and local employees could be prosecuted for approving collective gardens under the new law.
Lyman Howard, Sammamish's deputy city manager, said the emergency moratorium gives the city time to see how the dispute plays out — either in the courts or state legislature.
"There's a lot of conflicting law and rather than step into that we're calling a time out so we can see what other cities are doing," Howard said.
Howard said the city had not received any official requests for a collective garden in city limits. Without the moratorium, the law would have gone into effect this month.
The moratorium will stay in effect for six months. As an emergency act, the city must hold a public hearing after the fact. That hearing is scheduled for the Sept. 6 City Council meeting.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: sammamishreview.com
Author: Caleb Heeringa
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Sammamish Review
Website: Sammamish bans marijuana gardens pending more clarity
At their July 18 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved an emergency moratorium on collective marijuana gardens, which the state legislature recently approved for those prescribed the drug for medicinal purposes.
Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed portions of the law after receiving word from the U.S. Department of Justice saying that the law was in conflict with federal drug laws and that state and local employees could be prosecuted for approving collective gardens under the new law.
Lyman Howard, Sammamish's deputy city manager, said the emergency moratorium gives the city time to see how the dispute plays out — either in the courts or state legislature.
"There's a lot of conflicting law and rather than step into that we're calling a time out so we can see what other cities are doing," Howard said.
Howard said the city had not received any official requests for a collective garden in city limits. Without the moratorium, the law would have gone into effect this month.
The moratorium will stay in effect for six months. As an emergency act, the city must hold a public hearing after the fact. That hearing is scheduled for the Sept. 6 City Council meeting.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: sammamishreview.com
Author: Caleb Heeringa
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Sammamish Review
Website: Sammamish bans marijuana gardens pending more clarity
