Othello extends temporary pot ban

OTHELLO - In an emergency declaration, Othello joined the list of central Washington towns that are leery of allowing legal pot shops.

The Othello City Council unanimously voted to extend a temporary ban (or moratorium) on growing, processing or selling marijuana. A previous moratorium, enacted in December was set to expire at the end of June.

Last year, state voters passed Initiative 502, allowing for legal growing, processing and distributing of marijuana. Since then, certain city leaders have been scrambling to set their own limits or outright ban it from their towns.

Last month, Quincy banned retail marijuana shops and Wenatchee backed off a ban and instead enacted a moratorium after a pot grower sued the city for not allowing him to pursue his profession.

According to the moratorium, Othello leaders were concerned about the drug still being a banned substance under federal law.

Earlier this year, the Department of Justice told law enforcement and local leaders that legal marijuana growers and distributors would not be prosecuted if they abided by state and local laws.

Othello's ban also states that even though state law prohibits retail shops being 1,000 feet from school, playgrounds, libraries, bus stops or anywhere children could congregate, it "still poses a significant health and safety risk to neighboring properties."

The temporary ban also states "the previous moratorium is expiring and the city needs additional time to address the recreational marijuana-related land uses and attendant issues, particularly given the status of pending litigation with the cities of Kent and Wenatchee regarding the authority of cities to adopt local regulations, including bans and more restrictive requirements than those currently imposed by state regulation."

That moratorium expires in December.