The Pierce County Council voted unanimously July 2 to enact a moratorium on the marijuana market. The moratorium temporarily prohibits the location of marijuana-related facilities within Pierce County for six months.
The moratorium, named Ordinance 2013-26, was sponsored by council members Douglas Richardson, Connie Ladenburg and Jim McCune. Richardson, who represents district six, said the county needs to prevent the market from growing prematurely.
“Like other local communities around the state, we need to act now to ensure that the marijuana industry doesn’t get started before we have the opportunity to consider its impacts on our citizens,” he said.
Pierce County Councilman Dan Roach represents Bonney Lake, Buckley, Carbonado, Greenwater, Orting, South Hill, South Prairie and Wilkeson. He agreed that there are many unanswered questions that must be addressed before allowing any type of marijuana market in the county.
Among those questions is the concern that marijuana remains illegal under federal law — will the county face consequences for allowing the recreational sale and use of it?
Roach is also concerned about how the zoning will affect local communities. The marijuana businesses will only be allowed in specific areas, causing them to carry any ill-effects for the entire county. South Hill is one of the few points on the map allowed to host marijuana businesses, according to Roach.
“Is it fair to have South Hill bear the brunt of this ‘experiment’ while other communities get a pass?” he asked.
When questioned what he thinks the market should look like once implemented, Roach stood firmly that he has no high hopes.
“Personally, I don’t think breaking federal law, adding costs to county government, and pushing drug sales and distribution into my district is a good idea,” said Roach. “Furthermore, as a father of five young children, I am not excited about marijuana becoming as prevalent and accepted as alcohol is today.”
Over the next six months, the council and other branches of Pierce County government will study possible options and outcomes for the marijuana market.
In November, the city of Sumner passed Ordinance 2411, which prohibits the production, processing and retailing of both recreational and medicinal marijuana within the city.
On the law enforcement side of the issue, Sumner Chief of Police Brad Moericke said regardless of the city’s law, marijuana users aren’t necessarily penalized.
“In essence we don’t ban the individual use of marijuana according to existing state law, (we) just restrict the acquisition and commercial cultivation,” he said.
The purpose of the moratorium is to delay county regulations until the market is established at a state-wide level. The Washington State Liquor Control Board is expected to release governing rules regarding the production and sale of recreational marijuana later this year. It remains to be seen what, if anything, the federal government will do about it.
