Granite Falls puts moratorium on pot dispensaries

Published 12:01 am Friday, March 4, 2011

GRANITE FALLS — The Granite Falls City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to place a six-month moratorium on the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

There currently are no medical marijuana dispensaries in the city limits. One reason an ordinance was drafted is to allow time for the Legislature to clarify state laws on medical marijuana dispensaries, according to city attorney Paul McMurray.

“(The ordinance) is based on a similar ordinance passed by city of Edmonds in January,” McMurray said.

The moratorium prohibits the licensing, establishment and maintenance of a medical marijuana dispensary. Such a dispensary is defined as a person or business that sells or dispenses marijuana to more than one qualifying patient in a 60-day period. A voter initiative in 1998 legalized medical marijuana in the state.

“This is not a discussing about whether or not we believe the dispensaries are right or wrong,” Councilman Tom FitzGerald said. “This is to give us time to let the Legislature catch up and have the state law reflect whether or not it’s legal to have a dispensary.”

The City Council held a public hearing about the ordinance Feb. 16. Councilwoman Elizabeth Adams said Wednesday she would like to hear from residents in Granite Falls about the issue.

“We had a few people in here but most of them were from outside our city,” she said. “I’d like to have a meeting where (residents) can come in and talk to us and tell us what they think and how they feel.”

The vote on the moratorium was 4-0. Councilman Matt Hartman was not at the meeting.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.