Planning panel nears finish on new marijuana ordinance

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Jan 23, 20200

Whitman County Planner Alan Thomson reported to county commissioners Tuesday that the county planning commission is nearly done with its work to write a new ordinance for commercial marijuana operations in the county.

Thomson noted that the group's next meeting, Feb. 5, may bring a decision.

County Prosecutor Denis Tracy sat in on the last meeting to advise on wording.

Once the commission finishes the document, and before it goes to county commissioners, it first is required to be sent for a State Environmental Policy Act review. That will be followed by a public hearing. These steps may take two months.

“We've taken a lot of public input. We've changed some things. It's morphed over time,” Thomson said to commissioners of the near-complete draft. “I think the planning commission has done a stellar job. Ultimately, we know it's your decision.”

Last March, county commissioners asked the planning commission to begin work on the ordinance – after setting a six-month moratorium on any new marijuana growing, processing or retail business in the county.

Mark Storey, Public Works director, noted to commissioners Monday that the current moratorium ends March 4.

“You will need to extend it (again),” Storey advised.

The commissioners agreed. A six-month extension would be the second of the original six-month ban.

So what will the public reaction be to the proposed ordinance?

“I think you're gonna hear testimony on both sides of the coin,” Storey predicted. “Some will think it's too restrictive, others not restrictive enough.”