Pubdate: Wed, 04 May 2011
Source: Auburn Reporter (WA)
Copyright: 2011 Sound Publishing, Inc.
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/sZiDZNc9
Website: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5258
Author: Robert Whale
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

AUBURN SLAPS 1-YEAR MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Days after Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed key parts of the bill that 
aimed to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, the Auburn City 
Council on Monday gave itself a year to assess what having 
dispensaries here would mean.

During the time the one-year moratorium is in place on acceptance of 
applications for licensing, permitting and approval for medical 
marijuana dispensaries, the City Council expects to assess the zoning 
implications, the impact on citizens and set a public hearing.

"Zoning concerns have to be addressed so you don't put these 
dispensaries in inappropriate locations by schools or parks," City 
Attorney Dan Heid recently told the Auburn Reporter.

The unanimous followed an hour-long executive session.

"We've been advised that the governor (shown left) will be striking 
certain portions of the state bill," Heid said, "but from the 
information we've been able to discern, it may still keep language in 
there indicating local zoning regulations, even though there may be 
licensor issues that will be in question."

In 1998, 59 percent of Washington voters approved an initiative to 
legalize medical marijuana.

On April 21, the Senate and House passed Senate Bill 5073, which 
would establish a regulatory system for medical marijuana 
dispensaries and growers and provide protection from criminal 
prosecution for patients.

The bill passed through the House with a 54-43 vote and through the 
Senate with a 29-20 majority. Locally, 31st District Sen. Pam Roach 
(R-Auburn) and Rep. Cathy Dahlquist (R-Enumclaw) voted against the 
bill, with Rep. Christopher Hurst (D-Enumclaw) voting yes. In the 
47th District, Sen. Joe Fain (R-Auburn) and Rep. Pat Sullivan 
(D-Covington) voted to pass the bill and Rep. Mark Hargrove 
(R-Covington) voting no.

Gregoire said she could not approve a measure that could put state 
workers at risk of federal criminal charges.

"If I have my state employees intimately involved in a 
commercialization of growing operations, they could be subject to 
being called before the court as criminal defendants," Gregoire told 
the Associated Press. "I will not put state employees in that position."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom