COUNTY EXTENDS POT MORATORIUM

DAYTON - The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last week to extend its moratorium on marijuana businesses in the unincorporated county for three more months. The county's original one-year moratorium would have expired on September 18.

During their September 3 meeting, Commissioners Mike Talbot, Chuck Reeves and Dwight Robanske all agreed that county staff needed more time to review recent court cases regarding jurisdictions that have banned marijuana businesses. "I'm leaning toward not allowing it," said Roban- ske, who was out of town, but connected by speaker phone. "But we need to make sure we're not leaving ourselves open" to legal challenges.

A few days before the commissioners' vote, a Pierce County Superior Court judge ruled that the city of Fife, Wash. could legally ban marijuana businesses within its boundaries, in spite of voter approval of I-502 in 2012, legalizing recreational marijuana in Washington. County Planning Director Kim Lyonnais told the commissioners that he and the county prosecutor needed more time to review that ruling, and others that are expected to follow shortly.

Prior to the vote, Talbott also pointed out that, at that time, the city of Dayton had not yet made a decision on whether to allow marijuana businesses in the city. (It has since banned them. See adjoining article.) Since the city and county share law enforcement, and the majority of county residents live in the city, he said, the city's decision is an important consideration.

The moratorium vote was taken as the commissioners considered an proposed ordinance which would have defined zones in the county in which marijuana production, processing and sales would be allowed.

Before last week's vote, the commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance. Eight people spoke at the hearing, all favoring either a ban on marijuana businesses, or at least a continuation of the moratorium.

The commissioners all stated that they intend to make a final decision on marijuana businesses before the end of the year. They said they would hold another public hearing prior to a final vote.