DOZIER REFLECTS ON MARIJUANA BAN

WAITSBURG - Last week the Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a ban on the production, processing and sale of marijuana in the unincorporated areas of Walla Walla County. To date, Yakima, Pierce and Clark counties have done the same. Commissioners Perry Dozier and Jim Johnson voted in favor of the ban with Commissioner Greg Tompkins voting opposed.

This week, The Times sat down with District 2 Commissioner Dozier, who shared his views on the issue. Dozier says his number one concern is for the welfare of families and individuals.

"As a parent of two young adult boys I realize that there are a lot of temptations out there that can alter their lives at some point down the road. As a parent that's a huge concern for me and I can't see making one more substance readily available," he said.

Dozier has served as liaison to the Department of Human Services since he began his term as commissioner six years ago. As such, he has heard story after story of young teens whose lives have been significantly affected by alcohol and drug related issues.

"I don't want those temptations to be out there for any families - for any kids - they don't need that. There's so much ahead of them," he said. "I realize it's their choice, but young people don't always make the right choices."

The fact that the commissioners approved a one-tenth of one percent sales tax for mental health and substance abuse services in 2012 was also a point of conflict for Dozier.

"Approving that tax increase was a tough decision but it was for a good cause. That weighed on my mind when I made this decision. Am I going to sit there and tax people to help those that have a substance abuse problem and then turn around and approve the sale and growing of one of those drugs? Even though they say it's not a gateway drug, it's still a drug," he said. "We're not stopping anyone from consuming or smoking it. That's not our decision. We just had an opportunity to maybe make it a little more difficult."

Dozier says he fully understands Tompkins' position of feeling responsible to vote in accordance with the will of the state's voters. That stance was echoed in a recent Walla Walla Union Bulletin editorial which asserted that elected officials should not put personal feelings above the will of the voters and that bans undercut the intent of making marijuana legal. Nonetheless, Dozier felt he had to vote his conscience.

At the Sept. 2 public hearing on the matter, Johnson noted that, while Initiative 502 did pass statewide, Walla Walla County voters were 55% against approving the initiative and that an even larger percentage of the unincorporated county was opposed.

Prior to making their decision, the commissioners tasked the county planning commission with evaluating the best possible zoning options.

"We directed them to look at zoning possibilities, but not to consider a ban. That would be a legislative decision by the commissioners, not the planning commission," said Dozier.

The planning commission recommended that production, growth and sale in unincorporated Walla Walla County be limited to two pieces of property - one just south of the penitentiary and one just east; both are zoned heavy industrial.

Dozier said that it would have been relatively easy to approve those two pieces of property (owned by only eight landowners) and to make stringent Conditional Use Permits so that it would be very difficult to establish a business, especially since there are currently only two licensees in the county. "But my feelings are that I'm opposed to it. It's one of those instances where I know it was voted on by the people of Washington state but I'm in the position where we make those decisions based on what we think is the right thing to do," he said.

By far the strongest and most common argument Dozier hears in favor of marijuana businesses is the potential economic benefit to the county and state by the anticipated increase in state taxable income and family wage jobs. Dozier doesn't see much money coming to the county but does acknowledge the state may see a benefit.

"Whatever revenue is generated isn't going to go to the City coffers to fix the city streets," said Dozier. "Again, it's difficult for me to do simply for the economic benefits."

Another frequently heard citizen concern regards the regulation of medical marijuana - an issue Dozier says the commissioners have no say or jurisdiction over.

The standing marijuana zoning moratorium has been extended 60 days while the prosecuting attorney's office drafts the ban ordinance. Once drafted, one more public hearing will be held prior to final approval.