Board places 6-month stop on new marijuana sites

Monday afternoon the commissioners' room at the courthouse was packed and overflowing for the 2:15 p.m. session to consider a marijuana moratorium. Board President Art Swannack allowed for public comment after the ordinance was introduced by County Prosecutor Denis Tracy.

Tracy had been asked by the board to write up the moratorium calling for a six month stop on issuing licenses for producing, processing and sale of marijuana products or recreational marijuana.

The moratorium is meant to maintain the existing state of the county while giving the commissioners time to research and develop a better understanding to provide regulations for the county without having intervening developments make enacting regulations irrelevant.

After two hours of hearing comments pro and con, the commissioners approved the resolution on a 3-0 vote until Sept. 3. It will go into effect March 11 after legal notice is published today.

The moratorium also puts a temporary hold on any expansion of the current cannabis sites in the county.

"This does not stop the industry," said Commissioner Michael Largent. "We're just pausing for a bit to have a community discussion amongst our neighbors, and I'm hopeful that the discussion will be based upon science, will be based upon reasonableness."

On both sides of the discussion, people noted their love for the small town feel and love of their community. Both sides argued against action that would be detrimental.

The public comments started with Dr. Stephanie Fosback, an internal medicine physician in support of the moratorium. Dr. Fosback stated her respect for individual's rights to make choices.

"If this was a meeting about an individual's right to smoke marijuana, I probably wouldn't be here," said Dr. Fosback. "That said, there are a ton of consumer protections on tobacco and alcohol ... there is no such federal protection [on cannabis] because we are a state that has legalized marijuana for consumers. It's left to the county, left to all of us, to teach people to put those protections in place."

"I feel like this conversation is long over due," said Aaron Fosback, a resident of Country Club Road outside Pullman, "It appears that 30 counties in Washington have already enacted ordinances or regulations specifically to address marijuana, whereas Whitman County has not."

Pullman Regional Hospital CEO Scott Adams had previously sent a letter to the commissioners of his support for a moratorium.

"I think it's evident from the comments that have been made here today, and the range of opinions and need for additional education can be achieved through a moratorium that includes studies, that includes inviting viewpoints from all parts of the issue to come together to understand how to best adopt regulations and develop a plan for how the growth of cannabis and marijuana in our county and in our towns, can best be done to meet the needs of citizens as well as those business owners trying to make a business through cannabis," said Adams, who went on to encourage the commissioners to move forward.

John Wyrick, a faculty member at WSU for the School of Molecular Biosciences, also spoke in favor of the moratorium. Wyrick expressed his concerns about the chemicals that would be used in processing marijuana, and the need need to regulate it.

"It's completely ridiculous to me that there are no regulations in this county on growing and processing marijuana," said Wyrick. "I'm in favor of the moratorium. I think there clearly needs to be some research done and some careful thinking about it. I would encourage you to look into this and do more research because, clearly, regulation is needed."

Laina Wyrick, 17, who said she felt unsafe while running past cannabis shops, also spoke in favor of the moratorium. "I really support this moratorium because I want to be productive. I want to feel safe in my home town."

Some of those who spoke in favor commented on their concerns about the quality of life for those who live nearby, and how it might affect their home life. Some people while supporting agriculture noted that marijuana isn't classified as an agricultural product, and that most of the revenue that the industry makes doesn't come back into Whitman County. Some people referenced marijuana's history as a gateway drug. There were people with concerns about the county's lack of regulations when every other crop industry has regulations.

A representative from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Kelly Fukai said, "We support the implementation of a temporary moratorium on improving additional facilities until the county has conducted the necessary research to ensure that the implementation of appropriate policies and ordinances, which are consistent with other counties..."

Doug Bryan is from a family which has been part of Whitman County's agriculture for 130 years. He is used to his work being regulated.

"I am in support of this moratorium. I believe it's a good thing because I think there's a lot of unanswered questions here," said Bryan.

The first person to speak against the moratorium was Jerry Prout.

"I'm against the prohibition of the moratorium," stated Prout, explaining his experiences with the medical benefits of the plant.

"It's very, very important we research this, rather than stifle it," Prout said, "I don't want people to be denied the opportunity of receiving those benefits. I want people to research it and find out the good that's in it and not knock it down as an evil thing. There are good things that come out of this."

Several cannabis site owners said they plan to move here.

Many of those who spoke against the moratorium stated that there was a chance of losing business in Whitman County due to the moratorium and regulations that restrict the industry.

Mike Nilson gave a history of marijuana, and the plant's many uses such as hemp and the detoxification around Chernobyl and many other applications. He told of how he researched marijuana in high school for shock value on a term paper and was shocked himself at some of his discoveries.

"The effects of cannabis compared to alcohol, there is none," said Nilson, "Alcohol kills people every day, tobacco kills people every day, cannabis kills nobody. I strongly urge everybody to get some education about it because they've demonized the plant."

A former employee of the state Liquor and Cannabis Board, Maria Wyman, spoke of her love for Whitman County, and her history with working in agriculture.

"When people say that this plant is different, in a way it is different. The way people perceive it is different," said Wyman. She explained the plant is virtually the same as an herb, comparing it to roses, alfalfa and mustard of carrying odor.

While Wyman supports the need for studies, she worries about what will happen as she's moving her business into Whitman County from Spokane County.

A new resident of Whitman County with a bachelor's of science and agribusiness, Zack Dauscher moved from South Carolina in the hopes of working in the cannabis industry, and found Whitman County's reputation of strong agricultural support appealing. Dauscher expressed his concern for both his job as well as the jobs of hundreds of others and revenues for the county, as seen in other counties when a similar moratorium was put in place.

"I'm a young, highly educated person who just wants to come here to work," said Dauscher. "I want to be an asset to this community. I want to help build it up."

Dauscher went over the cannabis-related businesses already existing in Whitman County, and some of the benefits they provide.

Several scientists spoke on the terpenes found in cannabis, which are in part responsible for the odor, but are also found in citrus fruits, hops, mint and lavender, among other plants. They expressed the need for science and research to be done on cannabis.

Recent WSU graduate Kristin Jarvis-Fisher advocated the benefits of cannabis and gave some researched facts finding Whitman County to have less than one percent of the cannabis producers and processors in the state.

"Washington has over 1,400 registered licenses as far as producer processors go, and we have 12," said Jarvis-Fisher, also noting the county has less than one percent of the cannabis retailers in the state.

"So the idea that Whitman County is going to become a Mecca for cannabis is pretty silly," Jarvis-Fisher commented in reference to some of the fears mentioned at earlier meetings.

Many individuals claimed cannabis was the fastest growing industry in the United States.

"A lot of the draw to this area is the advancement of knowledge in regards to plant metabolism," said second year grad student, Joel Valosco.

"I firmly believe that the value that's being generated at Washington State can be maintained here."

"We have very real harm with regards to not advancing research with regards to cannabis," stated Valosco.

Speaking neither for nor against the moratorium was David McKiernan, assistant chief for Rural Fire District 12 based in Pullman.

He sought better communication and more involvement for his department with what is going on with other departments in their district.

"Just looking for a little bit better dialogue in the county itself. Keep us informed; if a process comes up that we don't know anything about, give us a chance to research it and report back," said McKiernan. "What kind of processes are we going to allow in our county, which ones are we not, and just better knowledge and better information for us to know what is out there when we get called out. So we know what we're going to."

Commissioner Largent encouraged McKiernan and his fire district to become involved over the next six months.

"We'd love to be involved in that. Like I said, we're not anti one way or another: we just want some involvement on it," McKiernan responded.

Chris Boyd, a marijuana farmer on Airport Road, was in agreement with McKiernan.

"I'm pro-moratorium on any new rezone," stated Boyd. He continued that the processing aspects were valid reason's for concern, and recognized people's protests about the odors. But, he also went over the groundwork he had put into establishing his farm, and didn't want the local cannabis market to suffer.

"I want to ask you, if you do do this moratorium, keep it as brief as possible," he said.

While Zach Kennedy feels the moratorium is a good idea from a planning, zoning and safety standpoint, he had concerns about the incoming businesses. He referenced the multiple individuals who had already spoken in the meeting, who, because they were moving from outside the county, needed to move their licenses into the county. Not an easy process as many state agencies are involved in the move. It is also an expensive process once they have started the move.

"I would encourage you guys to consider that," said Kennedy. "As you're looking at this moratorium consider those who are moving because if they're not allowed to continue their move, they probably won't come back."

"We don't know what we don't know," stated Commissioner Dean Kinzer. "From both sides I was hearing that yes, we probably should be putting in more regulations and be considering more of the effects of growing."

Commissioner Swannack ended the session by thanking those who attended for their respectful behavior during the proceedings.