Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2012
Source: Kitsap Sun (WA)
Copyright: 2012 Kitsap Sun
Contact: http://web.kitsapsun.com/scripts/letters.html
Website: http://www.kitsapsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4404
Author: Chris Henry

PORT ORCHARD TO HOLD HEARINGS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIA

PORT ORCHARD -- The city of Port Orchard on Tuesday will seek to 
extend its moratoria on dispensaries and gardens, city attorney Greg 
Jacoby said Monday.

The City Council will hold two public hearings -- one on 
dispensaries, one on gardens -- before voting on the extensions. The 
meeting is at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

The council in February enacted a six-month emergency moratorium on 
medical marijuana dispensaries as the Legislature debated medical 
marijuana legislation. The final bill did not legalize dispensaries, 
but did legalize medical marijuana gardens. It became effective in July.

In August, the city extended its moratorium on dispensaries for 
another six months and enacted a moratorium on medical marijuana 
gardens. City officials said they needed time to formulate 
regulations on medical marijuana. According to Jacoby, there is no 
limit to the number of extensions the city can seek on a moratorium, 
as long as the public process is upheld.

The city's planning commission has drafted proposed ordinances 
related to both gardens and dispensaries. But depending on the fate 
of several bills in the Legislature -- including two that would 
reclassify medical marijuana as a Schedule II controlled substance -- 
its work may need revision, Jacoby said. So the city hopes to buy more time.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom