Medical marijuana dispensaries, and property owners who lease or rent to dispensaries, were notified this week by the city of Kent that they must close or face the loss of their business licenses and potential criminal charges, according to a Tuesday city of Kent media release.
Citing the state’s failure to clarify the law pertaining to medical marijuana dispensaries, Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke said the city was left with no choice but to notify the five dispensaries that they must close.
“State law has put the city in a precarious position; we cannot just stand by while activity that is illegal under state and federal law occurs in the city,” Cooke said in the release.
Cooke said this action is not meant as an affront to those patients who suffer from a variety of medical ailments, including cancer patients who need medical marijuana to combat nausea.
“I supported Initiative 692 when it passed, and it’s a shame those patients are now caught in the middle,” Cooke said.
According to City Attorney Tom Brubaker, medical marijuana dispensaries are prohibited under current law.
“Dispensaries operating in Kent were notified long ago that dispensing medical marijuana was prohibited,” Brubaker sadi. “However, with numerous bills working their way through the legislative process, the city delayed enforcement action in hopes that the State Legislature would provide cities with the tools to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. With the veto (by Gov. Chris Gregoire) of portions of Senate Bill 5073, marijuana dispensaries will continue to be prohibited.”
Brubaker added:
“Senate Bill 5073 offered patient protections, authorized collective gardens, permitted dispensaries and allowed cities and counties to adopt zoning regulations governing the production, processing and distribution of medicinal marijuana, but the language that would have permitted dispensaries was subsequently vetoed,” said Brubaker. “The city has determined that with no state resolution under consideration, the city must take action to close the dispensaries.”
Cooke said she hopes the Legislature will resolve the issue during its next session.
“What we need is a well-defined law that doesn’t place cities in a position of violating federal and state statutes, while also allowing those patients safe, legal access to medical marijuana,” Cooke said.
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