Kent city officials are trying to determine how to handle the new recreational marijuana rules under consideration by the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) that could bring marijuana retailers and growers to Kent. David Galazin, assistant city attorney, sent a letter last week to the liquor board trying to "clarify the relationship between the board's regulatory authority and a municipality's general police powers to regulate business activity and provide for appropriate zones regulating the use of land within corporate borders," according to the letter. [continues 684 words]
Let the marijuana petition drive begin. Sensible Washington, which filed an initiative last month with the city of Kent to let voters decide whether the city should make marijuana offenses the lowest enforcement priority by Kent Police, received the go-ahead from Kent City Attorney Tom Brubaker to start to collect signatures. Brubaker told the group in a letter that they are "free to prepare, format and circulate your petition at any time." The initiative would "make the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of non-violent marijuana offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the lowest law enforcement priority." [continues 526 words]
Want to tell the Kent City Council what you think of its six-month ban on businesses selling medical marijuana? You have that chance as the council will have a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 220 Fourth Ave. S., to take testimony and consider adopting further findings. State law requires the council to hold a public hearing after the adoption of a moratorium. The council passed a six-month emergency moratorium July 5 on the establishment and operation of medical marijuana collective gardens and dispensaries within the city limits on a 5-2 vote. [continues 79 words]
Kent Police served search warrants at four medical marijuana businesses Wednesday afternoon, according to a city of Kent media release. The businesses, all located in the Kent Valley, have been the subject of an ongoing investigation for selling medicinal marijuana in violation of state law. The search warrants are the city's latest step in a process that began with notice to marijuana dispensary owners they must close or face the loss of their business licenses and potential criminal charges. The Kent City Council passed a six-month emergency moratorium Tuesday on the establishment and operation of medical marijuana collective gardens and dispensaries within the city limits on a 5-2 vote. [continues 210 words]
