PUBLIC HEARING JULY 19 IN KENT ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA MORATORIUM

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.

Kent Police served search warrants at four medical marijuana
businesses July 6. 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.