Pubdate: Wed, 24 Aug 2011
Source: News Tribune, The (Tacoma, WA)
Copyright: 2011 Tacoma News, Inc.
Contact: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/letters/submit/
Website: http://www.thenewstribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/442
Author: Lewis Kamb
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

TACOMA OKS MEDICAL POT PANEL

Tacoma's City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to empanel a 
"Medical Cannabis Task Force" to help form regulations for pot 
dispensaries in the city.

Mayor Marilyn Strickland will appoint the panel's members and 
designate its chairperson. She plans to announce the appointments Thursday.

"There was no problem recruiting volunteers for this (committee)," 
Strickland said.

Among its 11 members, the task force must include a medical cannabis 
dispensary or collective garden operator; a doctor or medical 
professional; a patient with a chronic illness; a neighborhoods 
representative; a community member or small business owner; a former 
law enforcement employee; a private individual with legal experience; 
and representatives of an anti-drug agency, a nonprofit that provides 
care for patients with chronic illnesses, the Tacoma-Pierce County 
Health Department and the business community.

"Really, the purpose of this task force is to provide diverse 
opinion," said Victoria Woodards, chairwoman of the council's Public 
Safety, Human Services and Education Committee.

Creation of the panel comes three weeks after the council approved an 
emergency six-month moratorium on new and existing medical cannabis 
dispensaries and community gardens in the city. The temporary ban 
seeks to allow the city time "to develop and adopt appropriate 
zoning, business licensing, health and safety, or tax requirements 
for the production processing, dispensing and delivery of medical cannabis."

Officials said then that the city won't take new enforcement action 
against existing businesses, but the ban was needed to prevent 
medical cannabis shops from multiplying further while rules are set up.

Once seated, the new committee is expected by Oct. 15 to provide 
"balanced feedback and recommendations to the city manager to assist 
city staff in developing recommendations to the City Council 
regarding business licensing, health and safety and tax 
requirements," according to the council's resolution authorizing the 
task force.

The panel will also have authority to conduct public outreach upon 
request of the public safety committee, and will provide "advice and 
feedback" to the city's planning commission in development of a 
"Medical Cannabis Policy Development" land use plan to be forwarded 
to the council Dec. 29.

"It doesn't mean this committee will have ultimate say," said 
Woodards, noting the public will have multiple opportunities to 
provide feedback during the process. "You still will have input."

Since last year, city officials have been grappling with how to deal 
with an explosion of medical pot dispensaries in Tacoma. In hopes 
this year's Legislature would clarify Washington's 1999 
medical-marijuana law, the city postponed appeals hearings for 30 
dispensaries. Those cases remain pending. All face losing city 
business licenses after city police and licensing officials cracked 
down on medical pot providers last year.

State lawmakers ultimately did pass a measure this year calling for 
state-licensed dispensaries, but Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed most of 
the bill. Instead, the new law that took effect July 22 leaves 
dispensary regulation up to local jurisdictions.

The new task force's term can be extended through Aug. 1, 2012, if necessary.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom