On Monday night, those people who were looking for a pot shop to be opened in Washougal did face some bad news when the City Councilannounces placing a 2-year ban on the business of marijuana and collective gardens.
Already the city had a suspension on the recreational operations of marijuana in place. But the supporters for this 2-year ban have said that the extension will thereby allow the city waiting for legislature to settle the unresolved issues with both the medical and recreational marijuana. The Councilor Michelle Wagner did not attend the meeting and Councilor Brent Boger has cast the single vote against ban.
Already the city had a suspension on the recreational operations of marijuana in place. But the supporters for this 2-year ban have said that the extension will thereby allow the city waiting for legislature to settle the unresolved issues with both the medical and recreational marijuana. The Councilor Michelle Wagner did not attend the meeting and Councilor Brent Boger has cast the single vote against ban.
Originally, Boger supported new ordinance till other councillors voted for changing ban’s sunset date from late 2015 to Sep 1, 2006. Boger said that the expiry date would be giving the city much of time for resolving any concerns regarding marijuana. However, he has taken issue with council’s approach to ban the growth, processing and sales of marijuana through the land-use laws. He said that motivation mostly is just an opposition to cannabis and that is improper. As it is not good to deal with in the zoning code.
Paul Greenlee noted a point that ordinance does not ban the possession or consumption of marijuana within the limits of the city. Only it bans the collective medical-marijuana-gardens and recreational marijuana businesses. These were the common subject of legal confusion over past few years.
In 2011, the collective gardens were approved for production of medical marijuana. Afterwards the then Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed one portion of the bill, which would have created registration for marijuana users and growers, prompting debate for local governments in the Washington regarding whether the collective gardens should be legal or not.
Paul Greenlee noted a point that ordinance does not ban the possession or consumption of marijuana within the limits of the city. Only it bans the collective medical-marijuana-gardens and recreational marijuana businesses. These were the common subject of legal confusion over past few years.
In 2011, the collective gardens were approved for production of medical marijuana. Afterwards the then Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed one portion of the bill, which would have created registration for marijuana users and growers, prompting debate for local governments in the Washington regarding whether the collective gardens should be legal or not.
According to Greenlee as he anticipated, the state lawmakers would require many issues associated with recreational marijuanato be taken up in next upcoming legislative session. As for example he mentioned the requirement for stricter regulations on the drug potency and a better system to share marijuana tax revenue with the local governments.
The councillors before taking vote discussed about the majority of Washougal voters opposing Initiative 502 in 2012.Boger gave his suggestions regarding the usefulness of knowing whether voters have changed minds on legal recreational marijuana. He said that he knew about the talk relating to this matter, I-502 being failing in Washougal.
The councillors before taking vote discussed about the majority of Washougal voters opposing Initiative 502 in 2012.Boger gave his suggestions regarding the usefulness of knowing whether voters have changed minds on legal recreational marijuana. He said that he knew about the talk relating to this matter, I-502 being failing in Washougal.