NORTH BEND EYES CHANGES IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA BAN

North Bend's administration may suggest the City Council make changes
to the city's one-year moratorium on facilities for production or
distribution of medical marijuana.

The council heard testimony from Steve Sarich, a medical marijuana
activist who lives near North Bend, at its July 19 meeting.

The current ban is overreaching and could prompt a lawsuit, Sarich
said. The council should scrap the ban and set up a working group to
develop city policy and zoning rules for medical marijuana.

"We need to establish standards for people operating in our
community," he said.

Sarich has filed an injunction against the state law on medical
marijuana that goes into effect July 22, arguing that the law is
unenforceable because it lacks adequate definitions of terms and intentions.

The law, Senate Bill 5073, passed this spring but large parts where
cut out by Gov. Chris Gregoire. The bill does permit authorized
patients to form collective gardens, which are prohibited under North
Bend's ban.

Several cities, including Issaquah, have passed six-month bans similar
to the one North Bend City Council approved in early June.

One city, Castle Rock, overturned its ban after two lawsuits were
filed against the city.

Any recommended changes will be presented to City Council at its Aug.
2 meeting.