There is no desire among a majority of city officials to further regulate the sale of marijuana downtown absent data showing it is a problem, City Council President Ben Stuckart said.

"I believe that this whole thing is based on fear, not truth or data," Stuckart said, referring to Monday's story that Mike Fagan and Downtown Spokane Partnership President Mark Richard were fielding concerns from religious leaders about pot stores opening in the downtown core. 

Stuckart said he wanted to ensure legal marijuana businesses that Spokane would not entertain proposals to regulate them out of existence, including adding buffer zones to churches.

"I'm worried that the marijuana industry is going to get the wrong idea," the city council president said.

Stuckart also took issue with Richard's comments indicating the city should take another look at where businesses were locating downtown.

"I think DSP’s role should be to strengthen our retail environment," Stuckart said.

There is no formal proposal before the City Council to change zoning codes that apply to marijuana businesses. Stuckart said Fagan is the only City Council member advocating change, and opponents have yet to provide data showing legal marijuana stores attract drug addicts and crime.