Marijuana Ban: University Place Looks At Ending Prohibition

UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA - City officials are in the midst of exploring whether to lift a longstanding ban on retail marijuana here, and the city planning commission met last week to discuss what that might look like from a zoning perspective.

On Sept. 19, the City Council passed a resolution to explore the possibility of allowing retail marijuana and processing in the city. That's mainly because the city may be missing out on tax revenue lost to consumers who go to Tacoma or other places to buy pot.

The Council has asked the planning commission to look at three main issues related to retail marijuana: buffers between stores and sensitive areas like schools or playgrounds; what permitting conditions the city would require; and which zones in the city would house marijuana retail businesses.

The planning commission is divided on the issue, with three of the five members who were present at the meeting last week against the idea of allowing marijuana businesses here. The commission has agreed, however, that it would want the maximum buffer - 1,000 feet - between marijuana businesses and places like schools, parks, and daycare centers.

The next step in the process will be a public hearing, which Planning Services Director David Swindale said could happen on the third Wednesday in January.

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