Council takes action on marijuana regulations in unincorporated King County

July 25, 2016

Summary

The approved ordinance will end the moratorium and goes into effect 10 days after receiving signature from Executive Dow Constantine.

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council has approved legislation refining existing county land use regulations concerning the growth, processing, and retail sale of marijuana.

Included in the adopted ordinance are measures to:

- Remove all parcels under 10 acres and designated as Rural Area (RA) zones from use in the production (growth), processing, and retail sale of marijuana.
- Exempt Vashon from restrictions on the use of RA zoned land for production and processing of marijuana.
- Approve studies on potential retail and processing in specific locations.
- Require the County Executive to identify 10 locations suitable for retail in Neighborhood Business (NB) zoned areas across unincorporated King County.

The ordinance was passed by the council 5-3, receiving support from Councilmembers Reagan Dunn, Kathy Lambert, Pete von Reichbauer, Claudia Balducci, and Dave Upthegrove. Those voting in opposition were Councilmembers Joe McDermott, Rod Dembowski, and Larry Gossett, while Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles was excused.

The county is presently under a four-month moratorium on the acceptance of applications for or the establishment or location of marijuana producers, processors, and retailers in unincorporated areas. The approved ordinance will end the moratorium and goes into effect 10 days after receiving signature from Executive Dow Constantine.