Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — The Whitman County Planning Commission is recommending new rules regarding commercial marijuana production, processing and sales.
“We’ve never debated something like this,” County Planner Alan Thomson said after the commission approved the proposal Nov. 4. “Wind turbines were controversial, but marijuana is a different level. We’re in a another league when we’re talking about drugs.”
If approved by Whitman County Commissioners, the new rules would allow indoor marijuana production in areas zoned for agriculture, heavy commercial, light and heavy industrial business. They would also allow production in the north and south Pullman-Moscow corridors.
Outdoor production and processing would be allowed only in agriculture districts.
No production or processing would be permitted on lots of less than 2 acres.
Retail outlets would only be permitted in the north and south corridors.
Indoor production, processing or retailing would require a conditional-use permit. As part of the application, a preliminary meeting with the county Planning Department would be required.
The proposal now moves to county commissioners to consider a draft ordinance, which could add various restrictions in odor control, lot size and more.
Under the draft proposal, no business could emit detectable marijuana odors at or beyond the facility’s lot lines.
County commissioners are expected to take up the ordinance in the next two months.
Commissioners will have the choice to approve the recommendation as written, amend and approve it or send it back for more study.
The planning commission began work on the proposed ordinance in the spring of 2019, after county commissioners passed the first of three, six-month moratoriums on marijuana businesses.
“It’s been a long journey putting something together,” Thomson said. “It’s something we think is fair and equitable.”
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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