AUBURN SLAPS 1-YEAR MORATORIUM ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Days after Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed key parts of the bill that
aimed to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries, the Auburn City
Council on Monday gave itself a year to assess what having
dispensaries here would mean.

During the time the one-year moratorium is in place on acceptance of
applications for licensing, permitting and approval for medical
marijuana dispensaries, the City Council expects to assess the zoning
implications, the impact on citizens and set a public hearing.

"Zoning concerns have to be addressed so you don't put these
dispensaries in inappropriate locations by schools or parks," City
Attorney Dan Heid recently told the Auburn Reporter.

The unanimous followed an hour-long executive session.

"We've been advised that the governor (shown left) will be striking
certain portions of the state bill," Heid said, "but from the
information we've been able to discern, it may still keep language in
there indicating local zoning regulations, even though there may be
licensor issues that will be in question."

In 1998, 59 percent of Washington voters approved an initiative to
legalize medical marijuana.

On April 21, the Senate and House passed Senate Bill 5073, which
would establish a regulatory system for medical marijuana
dispensaries and growers and provide protection from criminal
prosecution for patients.

The bill passed through the House with a 54-43 vote and through the
Senate with a 29-20 majority. Locally, 31st District Sen. Pam Roach
(R-Auburn) and Rep. Cathy Dahlquist (R-Enumclaw) voted against the
bill, with Rep. Christopher Hurst (D-Enumclaw) voting yes. In the
47th District, Sen. Joe Fain (R-Auburn) and Rep. Pat Sullivan
(D-Covington) voted to pass the bill and Rep. Mark Hargrove
(R-Covington) voting no.

Gregoire said she could not approve a measure that could put state
workers at risk of federal criminal charges.

"If I have my state employees intimately involved in a
commercialization of growing operations, they could be subject to
being called before the court as criminal defendants," Gregoire told
the Associated Press. "I will not put state employees in that position."