Woodinville City Council Wants A Moratorium To Study Ramifications of Medical Marijuana Collective Gardens Law

The made it clear at its Tuesday, Aug. 9 meeting that growing medical marijuana in “collective gardens” in Woodinville was not something the council wants.

The council voted unanimously to have the city attorney draft a six-month zoning moratorium that prohibits the licensing, establishment, maintenance, or continuation of any medical marijuana “collective garden” within city limits.  

The council’s action was in response to amendments passed in this year’s legislative session to Washington’s existing medical marijuana law. The amendments, as contained in Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (E2SSB) 5073, went into effect July 22, 2011. According to the amendments, a medical marijuana “collective garden” is an area or garden where qualifying patients engage in the production, processing, transporting, and delivery of marijuana for medical use as defined in a 1998 state law (RCW 69.50).  

The city’s current regulations do not recognize medical marijuana ”collective gardens"  of any type as  a permitted use in the city. 

City Attorney Greg Rubstello said at the meeting the city’s position against collective gardens would be strengthened. The moratorium is expected to be on the council’s agend at the Sept. 13.