SEQUIM — The city has extended its moratorium on sales of marijuana for six more months.
Council members voted 6-1 Monday night to extend the measure.
Councilwoman Genaveve Starr voted against it, saying voters already had approved marijuana sales when they passed Initiative 502 in November.
Legislative session
Sequim City Attorney Craig Ritchie said the city could revoke the moratorium if the state Legislature clarifies the legality of recreational marijuana and medical marijuana.
He said the distinction between the two currently is muddled.
“The Legislature probably is going to pass some legislation making medical marijuana available at less expense,” Ritchie said, and make changes in the excise tax on cannabis “so recreational marijuana isn’t forced out of the market.”
Until then, Sequim should stand pat, Ritchie said.
“I expect there will be a solution. I think we’ll have enough information by the time this legislative session is over.”
Marijuana retailing
The City Council acted over the objections of David Halpern, 760 Gardiner Beach Road, who had won a lottery slot for marijuana retailing.
“I will bring construction jobs to Sequim and will hire employees at much greater than the minimum wage,” he said.
Tom Ash, 1332 Marine Drive, said people now drive to Port Angeles or into Jefferson County to buy marijuana, costing Sequim tax revenue.
And Bill Batson, 140 E. Prairie St., said the moratorium was “allowing the Wild West to continue.”
A grower near his home was “bringing crime into the neighborhood,” he said. “If you have a legitimate business in town, you can put out the criminals.”
But Councilman Ted Miller spoke for the council majority when he called the moratorium “the least of evils at the present time.
“Let’s hope the state Legislature does get its act together,” he said.
