CITIZENS CAN OFFER INPUT ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

Less than a month after the City Council upheld a moratorium on
medical marijuana collective gardens and urged planners to craft a
solution, the city announced opportunities for citizens to offer input
on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance.

Under direction from the council, the Planning Department is
developing a measure to determine what -- or, indeed, if -- business,
safety and zoning restrictions should apply to such gardens.

Issaquah is in the midst of a six-month moratorium on the collective
gardens. The council enacted the ban in June and, per standard
procedure, held a public hearing on the issue July 18. Members agreed
to uphold the ban, but after hearing from medical marijuana users and
advocates, directed planners to formulate a solution as soon as possible.

Citizens can offer input on the proposed ordinance at a series of
meetings in the City Council Chambers, 135 E. Sunset Way, in September
and October.

The municipal Planning Policy Commission is scheduled to host a
workshop on the issue and listen to public input at 6:30 p.m. Sept.
8.

The commission plans to host a formal public hearing on the proposed
ordinance at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22. Commissioners intend to then forward
a recommendation to the City Council.

The council is expected to review the commission's recommendation at
7:30 p.m. Oct. 3.

The city announced the schedule Aug. 17.

State legislators sought to clarify medical marijuana rules in the
2011 regular legislative session, but Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed parts
of the bill after federal prosecutors threatened to charge state
employees for carrying out such a law.

Issaquah and other cities, including neighboring Sammamish, enacted
temporary bans to address issues related to medical marijuana. The law
Gregoire signed allows cities to examine possible restrictions on
medical marijuana operations.

Washington Initiative 692, passed in 1998, allows people suffering
from certain medical conditions to possess a 60-day supply of
marijuana. Under state law, physicians can recommend -- but not
prescribe -- medical marijuana for patients.

Marijuana in all forms remains illegal under federal law.