Medical marijuana shop owners want moratorium dropped

A familiar scenario played out at the Spokane Valley City Council meeting Tuesday evening during the required public hearing of the newest marijuana moratorium adopted by the city.

The gallery was full of marijuana store owners and advocates who pleaded with the council to let them stay in business.

The moratorium took effect on Oct. 6, and was adapted in response to the unexpected announcement by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board that it would start accepting applications for medical marijuana licenses and retail stores on Oct. 12.

At the Oct. 6 meeting, Deputy City Attorney Erik Lamb said the state did not announce how many licenses will be issued in Spokane Valley, and that a moratorium is the only way the Valley can gain enough time to define and adopt its own regulations.

Tuesday evening, Lamb said there are 27 applications filed with the state.

“The moratorium is a temporary measure while the city goes through its usual process of adjusting regulations,” Lamb said, adding that the state can not issue a new license in Spokane Valley under this moratorium.

Medical marijuana stores were unregulated by the state until it adopted comprehensive marijuana legislation this summer, and established the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board to oversee and regulate retail sale of both medical and recreational marijuana.

Owners of Spokane Valley medical marijuana stores said they may not be able to obtain the endorsement they now need from the state because of the moratorium.

Jason Dickson owns Herb Nerds which only sells medical marijuana.

“I have an interest in preserving the small American business,” Dickson said. “I’d encourage you to lift the moratorium and save our families.”

He said limiting medical marijuana retail outlets will push people with prescriptions for marijuana to shop on the black market.

“And the black market doesn’t check ID or make sure everyone is over 21,” Dickson said.

Tara Harrison with the Coalition for Cannabis Standards and Ethics said medical marijuana users will not get correct advice in a recreational store.

“They aren’t there to party and get high – they are desperate – they are at the end of their rope,” Harrison said. “We have to make sure the patients can get the medicine they need.”

Scott Phillips who owns E.K. Green Alternative Wellness said his store only sells medical marijuana.

“We were here before the recreational stores opened – we have done everything right and we pay our taxes,” Phillips said. “I have a family to take care of and my business is a legitimate business.”

Only one resident spoke up in support of the moratorium, alongside Linda Tompson of the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council.

“This moratorium is important especially for our young people,” Thompson said.

The city maintains that the moratoriums will have no effect on existing, licensed businesses.

There were few comments from the council members during the hearing until Bill Gothmann offered this: “We will be lifting the moratorium in a year; we will be doing what you all want.”