News (Media Awareness Project) - US WA: Auburn Leaders Seek Public Input On Medical Marijuana |
| Title: | US WA: Auburn Leaders Seek Public Input On Medical Marijuana |
| Published On: | 2011-06-06 |
| Source: | Auburn Reporter (WA) |
| Fetched On: | 2011-06-08 06:02:39 |
AUBURN LEADERS SEEK PUBLIC INPUT ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES TONIGHT
City leaders want to know if people believe they should allow medical
marijuana dispensaries in Auburn.
The public's chance to speak up is at 7:30 tonight at City Hall, 25 W.
Main St.
Recently, City leaders enacted a one-year moratorium on acceptance of
applications for licensing, permitting and approval for medical
marijuana dispensaries, allowing officials to assess the zoning
implications, the impact on citizens and to hold tonight's 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.
Marijuana possession is illegal in Washington. But 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, with Rep. Mark Hargrove (R-Covington) voting
no.
On April 29, Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed many sections of E2SSB 5073,
including the sections that would create a patient registry and
require dispensaries and producers to be licensed.
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."
City leaders want to know if people believe they should allow medical
marijuana dispensaries in Auburn.
The public's chance to speak up is at 7:30 tonight at City Hall, 25 W.
Main St.
Recently, City leaders enacted a one-year moratorium on acceptance of
applications for licensing, permitting and approval for medical
marijuana dispensaries, allowing officials to assess the zoning
implications, the impact on citizens and to hold tonight's 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.
Marijuana possession is illegal in Washington. But 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, with Rep. Mark Hargrove (R-Covington) voting
no.
On April 29, Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed many sections of E2SSB 5073,
including the sections that would create a patient registry and
require dispensaries and producers to be licensed.
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."
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