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City Works to Ensure Marijuana Operations Comply

City Works to Ensure Marijuana Operations Comply

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec. 5, 2014

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160

Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253)591-2054

 

City Works to Ensure Marijuana Operations Comply With Local and State Law

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, the City Council will consider are solution to set a special public hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, starting at 5:30 p.m., in the Tacoma Municipal Building Council Chambers (747 Market St., 1st Floor). A continuation of an ongoing community conversation, this hearing would provide medical patients, marijuana operators and citizens with an opportunity to share their comments regarding the marijuana enforcement option favored by the City Council.  

Under this option, the City of Tacoma would work to ensure that all businesses operating within Tacoma are doing so in compliance with the law – and are licensed at the state and local levels – by summarily suspending any unlicensed marijuana operation that is still open after a 90-day notice is received from the City.

Unlicensed marijuana operations that have been summarily suspended under this option would be provided a hearing within three business days of that suspension. If that suspension is upheld, an appeal can be made to the City’s Hearings Examiner, and the operation must remain closed during the appeal process. 

Medical patients would be able to continue to access marijuana under this option at any of the five Washington state licensed retail marijuana locations open in Tacoma. Three more are expected to open after they have completed the state and local licensing process.

Washington state accepted applications for retailer,producer and processor licenses through Dec. 18, 2013 and is not accepting anymore applications at this time.   

Currently, possession of more than one ounce, production and delivery of marijuana (including medical marijuana) is a crime in Washington state if done without a proper state license. Possession, production and delivery of marijuana is also a federal crime.

At this point in time, City staff is working to further define possible processes and establish a timeline for City Council consideration. Citizens seeking more information can call 311 to be directed to the appropriate staff person who can address their specific question.

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