Ritzville sets moratorium on marijuana sales

Ritzville City Council unanimously passed a moratorium prohibiting the production, processing and retail sales of recreational marijuana Tuesday.

The state, in response to the passage of Initiative 502, is preparing to launch its regulation of the new marijuana industry.

Voters overwhelming voted to legalize the use of marijuana in the state, thus supporting the establishment of a regulated commercial industry that Washington will monitor and tax.

The state has determined that two retail marijuana operations will be allowed in Adams County. The city’s actions Tuesday will provide the council with time to establish zoning and land use regulations for the new industry, before such operations locate in Ritzville.

The moratorium is only temporary. The city is not able to issue a permanent moratorium. Current state law allows a six month moratorium with an opportunity for the city to extend it twice for a total of 18 months.

During the moratorium, the city must be actively developing its new rules and regulations and must conduct a public hearing to collect community input regarding the framing of the new zoning and land use regulations.

“You need to be trying to develop your regulations,” City Attorney Mark DeWulf said. “You don’t get to pass a moratorium and then sit on your hands.”

According to the newly adopted ordinance, once the city conducts a public hearing on the matter, it must adopt a Findings of Fact, “justifying its actions before the public hearing, and determine whether a work plan is necessary to address the issues involving the processing, production and/or retail sales of recreationl marijuana within the city and if appropriate, extending the moratorium to complete the work plan and implementation of appropriate regulations.”