COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING ON COLLECTIVE POT GARDEN BAN

YAKIMA, Wash. - Collective gardens and dispensaries for medical
marijuana would be illegal under a proposed ordinance being considered
by the Yakima Planning Commission.

The commission will hold a public hearing on the matter at 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday at City Hall.

The City Council will hold its own hearing on the commission's
recommendation on Jan. 17, just before a six-month moratorium on
medical marijuana gardens expires.

The commission is expected to recommend that the city ban collective
gardens or dispensaries as long as they violate state or federal law.

The commission will subsequently consider zoning standards for
collective gardens should they become legal.

In July, Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed a law that would have allowed both
dispensaries and collective gardens. She left in place the provision
for gardens, giving cities the chance to regulate how they should be
authorized and operated.

However, both the state and local governments say they are concerned
that government employees could run afoul of federal law by being
involved in that process.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, a long-held position that
Gregoire recently petitioned the federal government to change.

The city's action is not intended to affect the state's medical
marijuana law for individual patients.