Pubdate: Wed, 27 Nov 2013
Source: Stranger, The (Seattle, WA)
Copyright: 2013 The Stranger
Contact:  http://www.thestranger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2241
Author: Ben Livingston

ANTI-POT CITIES MAY GET SUED

State Won't Do a Damn Thing to Stop the Lawsuits

State marijuana regulators received more than 800 applications to 
grow, process, and sell cannabis in the first week of the application 
window, which runs from November 18 until mid-December. But many of 
those pot entrepreneurs will face challenges-not from the state, but 
from local governments that are attempting to block them from opening 
their doors.

In a legislative committee hearing last week, state lawmakers were 
particularly concerned with jurisdictions that oppose these legal pot 
companies. More than 50 cities-including Vancouver, Kent, and 
Issaquah-have enacted bans on cannabis businesses. But that's not the 
state's problem, Washington State Liquor Control Board director Rick 
Garza told the committee. The state intends to issue a license to any 
qualified applicant, regardless of a city's moratorium on pot 
businesses, and let the cities defend themselves from lawsuits from licensees.

"We will issue licenses regardless of bans or moratoriums in those 
communities and wait and see what the response is," said Garza. In 
other words, it's not the state's job to defend possibly illegal 
moratoriums-and anti-pot cities are on their own. He adds that the 
agency has participated in several trainings to help council members 
get over their issues.

In dozens of the cities and counties with moratoriums, council 
members intended to buy time to enact specific cannabis zoning 
regulations. But others seem intent on undermining the will of 
voters, who approved the marijuana-legalization law last November.

Earlier this month, the Pierce County Council banned pot businesses 
so long as the federal government outlaws marijuana. "We should not 
be thumbing our nose at the law of the land," said council chair 
Joyce McDonald. But Pierce County executive Pat McCarthy vetoed that 
pot ban on Monday, citing concern for the "legal risk" the council 
was taking and saying, "The voters of Washington State have spoken."

Cities and counties have three months before the state expects to 
issue pot business licenses. Those that try to stop pot businesses 
could be sued-and the state, obviously, doesn't intend to help them.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom