Pubdate: Mon, 10 Sep 2012
Source: West Seattle Herald (WA)
Copyright: 2012 Robinson Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.westseattleherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4380

CITY OF SEATTLE PROPOSING NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA REGULATIONS

The confusing contradictions regarding medical marijuana regulations
may see a little more clarity if new regulations proposed today take
effect.

An intergovernmental team consisting of City staff and representatives
from the Mayor's office, City Councilmembers and the City Attorney are
begining discussions on potential legislation establishing zoning
regulations for growing, processing, and dispensing of medical
marijuana in Seattle.

In a press release announcing the new direction for the City they
said: "Medical marijuana providers operate in a grey area between
city, state and federal law," said Mayor McGinn. "This proposal is an
attempt to better define appropriate operations for dispensaries. We
look forward to hearing from the public on this approach."

"I support safe and responsibly run access points for medical cannabis
in Seattle; it's important that these access points be subject to
zoning laws and other city regulations just like any other business or
land use," said City Attorney Pete Holmes.

The purpose of this proposed ordinance is to limit the off-site impact
of larger-scale cannabis-related activity in zones where they may have
increased impacts on neighborhood character or security, specifically
those zones with a predominately residential or historic character:

- - Single family and multifamily residential zones - Neighborhood
Commercial 1 zones - Pioneer Square Mixed, International District
Mixed and Residential, Pike Place Mixed, Harborfront neighborhoods In
these zones, the growing, processing, or dispensing of cannabis would
be limited to:

45 cannabis plants; 72 ounces of useable cannabis; and An amount of
cannabis product that could reasonably be produced with 72 ounces of
useable cannabis. "My goal is for zoning regulations that minimize
possible neighborhood impacts while providing reasonable access for
patients," added Council President Sally J. Clark.

This proposed ordinance would create additional limitations on
growing, processing, and dispensing of cannabis to existing State or
federal laws and is an exercise of the City's authority to protect
public health, safety, and welfare.

The SEPA appeal period ends Monday, October 1. Members of the public
will have the opportunity to comment on these proposed regulations
when the Council discusses this ordinance this December, in
Councilmember Licata's Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture
Committee.

"We want to create standards now so that we don't repeat what is
happening in Los Angeles, where law enforcement raids shut down
operations of good and bad businesses alike and eventually City
Council banned dispensaries altogether because there were few
standards in LA to hold operators accountable," said Councilmember
Nick Licata. "For this reason, I hope access point operators and
neighborhood residents will agree that they each can benefit from the
consistency and accountability that these regulations will provide."

City Councilmembers Nick Licata and Sally Clark will be visiting
Neighborhood Council meetings through December to gather feedback on
the proposal. Additional information on these meetings will be
available as they are scheduled."
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MAP posted-by: Matt