During the city council Planning & Land Use Committee meeting Wednesday, January 27th, changes concerning the sale of medical and recreational marijuana products within Ferndale were discussed and prepared to take to the City Council on Monday, February 1st.
Changes being considered include:
- Zoning changes
- Permitting sale of both medical and recreational products at the same location
- Rescinding the marijuana licensing moratorium
Committee Chairman Keith Olson noted the only reason the city keeps needing to reapproach decisions already made regarding marijuana regulations is because the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board keeps changing their regulations.
The zoning changes to be discussed would reduce the areas where a marijuana retailer could legally set up their storefront. Previously retail stores could be located in general business, light industrial and manufacturing zoned areas. Discussions now are to reduce this to only general business zoned areas while still adhering to requirement for setbacks from schools, playgrounds, libraries and other places children are expected to gather.
Click for more information
Click for more informationAs part of the zoning discussion, including religious institutions in the list of places where children gather is being debated. City staff pointed out that current churches are located within existing buffer zones so to identify them would be redundant. Staff also voiced a concern about being able to properly identify “religious institutions” for land use purposes since they can be considered any place people practice religion.
In addition, since the state modified their rules allowing for sale of both medicinal and recreational marijuana products at the same location, the Planning & Land Use committee discussed allowing the same to be in agreement with state regulations.
When the state first implemented regulations after voters approved the legalization of the sale of marijuana, the city was assigned a single retail license to issue. It was recently issued to SOS Buds. Since then the city determined a second license can be issued if the city council chose to allow for it.
City staff recommended to the committee that if and when decisions by the city council are made regarding these issues, the moratorium on licensing new marijuana stores implemented in December should be lifted.
The committee agreed to forward these items to city council for further consideration without a recommendation.
These items are on the agenda for the next regular Ferndale City Council Meeting on February 1st.