Snoqualmie explores continued ban on marijuana businesses

Published 11:55 am Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The Snoqualmie Planning Commission held a meeting on Dec. 7 to hear public testimony on the possibility of the city allowing marijuana production, processing, or retail sales.

Mark Hofman, community development director for the city of Snoqualmie, said the meeting room’s seats were filled with about 50 to 60 people and the public comments were mostly against marijuana coming to Snoqualmie.

“The comments that they heard repeatedly were please prohibit marijuana production and retail in the city,” Hofman said.

In an audio recording of the meeting, which is available on the city’s website, the commission discussed what other cities like Sammamish, which has completely prohibited marijuana, have done to inform their decision along with public comments.

Hofman said the commission will further explore this issue and possibly form a recommendation to the city council next year. The city currently has a moratorium on marijuana retail businesses until March 2016.

“We are coming back on Jan. 4 to continue the discussion,” Hofman said. “In late January we will have a formal recommendation on which direction they want to go in. After that we will go to city council.”

Two Valley cities, North Bend and Carnation, have adopted code allowing marijuana-related businesses in selected zones. North Bend has received inquiries about business licenses, but none for the allowed areas. Carnation recently received a request to reduce the state-set 1,000-foot buffer around schools, parks and other public areas, which the council plans to review in 2016.

The state Liquor and Cannabis Board this week recently announced it would grant 222 new retail licenses, prioritizing medical marijuana facilities that applied for retail licenses prior to July 1, 2014, in order to ensure that medical users have access to marijuana.

The methodology for awarding these licenses will be published in early January.