Bonney Lake Council Passes Temporary Moratorium on Marijuana Dispensaries

 The Bonney Lake city council passed a temporary moratorium on medicinal marijuana dispensaries and related businesses within city limits during their regular council meeting on Tues., Aug. 23. Bonney Lake and other towns that decided not to risk marijuana business licenses due statewide ambiguity on its legality.

There was no council discussion on the matter and the ordinance carried unanimously. A public hearing on the moratorium is scheduled for the next regular council meeting on Tues., Sept. 6. at 7 p.m.

The moratorium is effective for the next six months, unless terminated early by the council. It can also be renewed if the council needs more time to study the issue. In the interim, the issue will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation on where, if at all, marijuana businesses will be allowed within city limits.

The issue on medicinal marijuana, collective gardens and dispensaries has been discussed in past public safety committee meetings, but no recommendations have come forward for council consideration. At the July 26 regular meeting, councilmember and public safety committee member Mark Hamilton suggested adding language to the city’s Community Garden contract that no marijuana may be grown there, but no action was taken on that specific amendment.