Washougal approves marijuana moratorium

It will be at least six months before retail businesses in Washougal can consider selling marijuana, if they are approved by the Washington State Department of Revenue. The Washougal City Council approved an emergency ordinance on Dec. 2, regarding the establishment of retail businesses that sell marijuana. It establishes a six-month moratorium prohibiting all uses allowed under state Initiative 502. Last year, Washington voters approved I-502. It allows individuals 21 and older to possess and use marijuana-related paraphernalia and any combination of one ounce of usable marijuana, 16 ounces of marijuana infused product in solid form or 72 ounces of marijuana infused product in liquid form. Individuals are subject to criminal prosecution for possession in amounts greater than that or possession of any quantity or kind by a person younger than 21. All of the above is still a violation of federal law. Three types of licenses are available — production, processing and sales. There are no limits with the number of production and processing licenses available, but sales licenses will be limited to one in Washougal and chosen by lottery — if more than one valid application is received. A public hearing regarding the moratorium will be held Monday, Jan. 27, during the 7 p.m., Washougal City Council meeting. New marijuana licenses cannot be issued to businesses located within 1,000 feet of the perimeter of elementary or secondary schools, playgrounds, recreation centers or facilities, childcare centers, public parks and transit centers, libraries and game arcades. The Camas City Council approved an emergency moratorium on Nov. 4, for all I-502-related uses until April 14, 2014. The State Department of Revenue is accepting marijuana business license applications on the state’s Liquor Control Board’s behalf. A tier one designation would involve a “plant canopy” of less than 2,000 square feet at the production premises. Tier two would apply to plant canopies of 2,000 to 10,000 square feet, and tier three would involve canopies of 10,000 to 30,000 square feet. Marijuana production license applications have been received from Camas individuals at Carol’s Country Store, 4313 N.W. Sierra St., and 2129 N.W. 43rd Ave. (tier three), as well as Wolf Marijuana, 4806 N.E. 316th Court (tier three). Marijuana production license applications have also been submitted by Washougal residents at Alderhill Design, 3213 N.E. 357th Court (tier one); Bacons Buds, 181 Katies Lane (tier one); VBSC, 35151 N.E. Ammeter Road (tier one); Crop Circle Co., 207 N.E. 408th Court (tier two); Custom Cultivators, 2990 Evergreen Way (tier two); Mt. Norway Farms, 2535 S.E. 362nd Ave. (tier two); Aromatica Botanical, 36701 S.E. 20th St., #A and B (tier three); Columbia Herbal, LLC, 4835 “Y” St. (tier three).

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