City reschedules hearing on medical marijuana
September 20, 2011
Citizens can offer input on a proposed ordinance to address medical marijuana collective gardens next month.
The municipal Planning Policy Commission rescheduled a Sept. 22 public hearing on the proposed ordinance to Oct. 13. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way.
Commissioners heard from medical marijuana advocates, city planners, Police Chief Paul Ayers and others at a Sept. 8 meeting about the proposal.
Under direction from the City Council, the municipal Planning Department is developing a measure to determine what or if business, safety and zoning restrictions should apply to such gardens.
Issaquah is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on the collective gardens. The council enacted the ban in June and, per standard procedure, held a public hearing on the issue in July.
The council agreed to uphold the ban, but after hearing from medical marijuana users and advocates, directed planners to formulate a solution as soon as possible.
Citizens can offer input on city’s marijuana proposal
September 13, 2011
Citizens can offer input on the citywide moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens as meetings on a proposed marijuana ordinance continue.
Under direction from the City Council, the municipal Planning Department is developing a measure to determine what — or indeed if — business, safety and zoning restrictions should apply to such gardens.
The city is offering opportunities for citizen input on a proposed ordinance in September and October.
Citizens can comment at Planning Policy Commission meeting Sept. 22. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way.
The measure is expected to return to the council for discussion Oct. 3. Citizens can also address the council about the proposal. Members meet at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers as well.
Issaquah is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on the collective gardens. The council enacted the ban in June and, per standard procedure, held a public hearing on the issue July 18.
The council agreed to uphold the ban, but after hearing from medical marijuana users and advocates, directed planners to formulate a solution as soon as possible.
Citizens can offer input about medical marijuana ordinance
August 30, 2011
Citizens can offer input on the citywide moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens as planners craft a possible solution.
Under direction from the City Council, the municipal Planning Department is developing a measure to determine what — or indeed if — business, safety and zoning restrictions should apply to such gardens. The city is offering opportunities for citizen input on a proposed ordinance in September and October.
Issaquah is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on the collective gardens. The council enacted the ban in June and, per standard procedure, held a public hearing on the issue July 18. Members agreed to uphold the ban, but after hearing from medical marijuana users and advocates, directed planners to formulate a solution as soon as possible.
Citizens can offer input about medical marijuana ordinance
August 21, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Aug. 21, 2011
Less than a month after the City Council upheld a moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens and urged planners to craft a solution, the city announced opportunities for citizens to offer input on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance.
Under direction from the council, the Planning Department is developing a measure to determine what — or, indeed, if — business, safety and zoning restrictions should apply to such gardens.
Issaquah is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on the collective gardens. The council enacted the ban in June and, per standard procedure, held a public hearing on the issue July 18. Members agreed to uphold the ban, but after hearing from medical marijuana users and advocates, directed planners to formulate a solution as soon as possible.
Press Editorial
August 2, 2011
Time to legalize marijuana is now
A surefire solution exists to end confusion surrounding marijuana laws — legalization.
The most sensible course of action is to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana.
Such a decision could end the confusion of medical marijuana users and municipal officials alike.
Issaquah upheld a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens July 18, because state and federal law do not jibe on marijuana, medical or otherwise. City Council members kept a month-old moratorium in place while they crafted a possible solution.
Although the decision is not ideal, the temporary ban is a prudent response to a confusing situation. We call on the city to work quickly and compassionately to create regulations to allow medical marijuana users access to a drug allowed under voter-approved state law.
City upholds moratorium on medical marijuana gardens
July 26, 2011
Leaders intend to ‘give the city time’ to establish rules
In the emotion-laced discussion about medical marijuana rules in Issaquah, stage IV melanoma survivor Kathy Sparks added a patient’s perspective to the debate.
Before the City Council decided July 18 to uphold a moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens, Sparks, a Tiger Mountain resident, asked members to consider patients unable to attend the hearing.
“There are lots of patients in stretchers and wheelchairs who can’t be here tonight to say these things,” she said.
Councilmen Mark Mullet (left), Tola Marts and Joshua Schaer listen as medical marijuana advocates address the City Council on July 18 about Issaquah's moratorium on collective gardens. By Greg Farrar
The council opted in a 6-1 decision — after poignant pleas from medical marijuana users and strikingly personal stories from council members — to maintain a moratorium enacted last month. Councilman Mark Mullet voted against the moratorium.
Under state law, a city can impose a moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens as leaders consider possible land-use or zoning changes. The moratorium is in effect for up to six months, although council members urged city staffers to formulate possible solutions as soon as possible.
Recent changes in state law prompted the decision. So, too, did the opening late last year of a medical marijuana collective in a downtown Issaquah neighborhood.
Though medical marijuana dispensaries remain illegal under state law, hazy rules surround patient collectives.
Washington law allows up to 10 qualifying patients to join together and form a collective garden of up to 45 plants, so long as the marijuana is not visible from public spaces.
King County forgoes crackdown on medical marijuana
July 26, 2011
Dow Constantine
King County is adopting a more laissez-faire approach to medical-marijuana operations as Issaquah, Sammamish and other cities tighten rules for patient-run collective gardens and other operations.
Issaquah City Council members upheld a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens July 18 — the same day the council in neighboring Sammamish enacted a similar moratorium. Federal Way, Kent, North Bend and other cities also clamped down on medical-marijuana operations.
King County Executive Dow Constantine, however, does not intend to propose legislation to address the issue in rural and unincorporated areas.
“At this time, the executive does not plan to propose any new regulations governing dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county,” said Frank Abe, a spokesman for the executive.
The decision means medical-marijuana operations in unincorporated areas, such as The Kind Alternative Medical Collective, a nonprofit collective in Preston, can continue operations unaffected.
In the meantime, county officials plan to reach out to residents in unincorporated areas to address concerns.
Issaquah moratorium on medical marijuana gardens remains in effect
July 19, 2011
Councilmen Mark Mullet (left), Tola Marts and Joshua Schaer listen as medical marijuana advocates address the City Council on Monday about Issaquah's moratorium on collective gardens. By Greg Farrar
Leaders continue moratorium to ‘give the city time’ to establish rules
NEW — 10 a.m. July 19, 2011
In the discussion about medical marijuana rules in Issaquah, Stage IV melanoma survivor Kathy Sparks added a patient’s perspective to the debate.
Before the City Council decided Monday night to continue a moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens, Sparks, a Tiger Mountain resident, asked members to consider patients unable to attend the hearing.
“There are lots of patients in stretchers and wheelchairs who can’t be here tonight to say these things,” she said.
Community input is sought on medical marijuana moratorium
July 12, 2011
Issaquah leaders enacted a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens June 20, as the city prepares to address a state law meant to clarify the hazy rules surrounding medical marijuana.
Now, community members can offer input to the City Council about the moratorium at a public hearing during a July 18 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way.
Members enacted the moratorium in a unanimous decision. State law authorizes a city to impose a moratorium as leaders consider possible land-use or zoning changes. The pause is meant to allow city leaders to consider options for collective gardens before updated state laws for medical marijuana collectives take effect July 22.
The moratorium also prompted questions about the only medical marijuana collective in Issaquah.
GreenLink Collective appealed in March after the city denied a business license to the downtown medical marijuana collective. The city denied the application, because planners decided the collective is more similar to a drugstore or a pharmacy, rather than a social services organization. The city hearing examiner denied the appeal June 20.
City Council enacts moratorium on medical marijuana gardens
June 28, 2011
Issaquah leaders enacted a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana collective gardens June 20, as the city prepares to address a state law meant to clarify the hazy rules surrounding medical marijuana.
City Council members enacted the moratorium in a unanimous decision. State law authorizes a city to impose a moratorium as leaders consider possible land-use or zoning changes. The pause is meant to allow city leaders to consider options for collective gardens.
Under state law, up to 10 qualifying patients can join together and form a collective garden of up to 45 plants, so long as the marijuana is not visible from public spaces.
The initial measure before the council included language about a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries as well. Councilman Fred Butler eliminated the language before the vote.
“The reason for deleting ‘medical marijuana dispensaries’ is, they’re currently illegal and were not addressed in the” recent state legislation, he said before the council decision.
