Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 Source: Daily News, The (Longview, WA) Copyright: 2012 The Daily News Contact: http://www.tdn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2621 Author: Marqise Allen WOODLAND COUNCIL SETS SIX-MONTH BAN ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES Caught in between the state and federal marijuana regulations, the Woodland City Council decided to hold off on allowing dispensaries and gardens until the rules become less hazy. The council on Tuesday unanimously passed a measure to institute a six month city-wide moratorium in hopes the state will resolve the ambiguities of last year's marijuana legislation. "I think we're being prudent to wait and see what happens," said Councilman Al Swindell. "It's a catch-22 right now." Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed sections of a bill last year that would have allowed for dispensaries and put cities state-wide in limbo on whether to allow dispensaries and grow operations that are still deemed illegal on the federal level. Some lawmakers have already begun pushing another bill, SB 6265, that would legalize nonprofit dispensaries but still leave regulation up to individual municipalities. Councilman John Burke said the city should have a clearer understanding of the rules and how to properly move forward by the time the moratorium ends. However, there's also talk that legislators could put a measure before voters on the November ballot that would legalize and tax recreational-marijuana sales. A decision that will be made long after the six month moratorium expires. "It's a tough issue," Mayor Grover Laseke said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom