King County Council lifts moratorium on marijuana businesses

The moratorium on marijuana businesses in unincorporated parts of King County is just about over. The King County Council voted last night to lift the four month ban.

Council members also considered a move to allow retail pot stores in neighborhood business zones. People like Linda Mango asked policy makers to approve of that legislation.

Mango: It's beneficial for medical marijuana patients such as myself and for the other 70,000 people that registered last year with dispensaries."

But in the end, County Council members rejected that part of the plan. Instead, the council is calling for a study about where to locate retail stores in neighborhood business zones.

Council members also approved legislation that would allow for marijuana farms. Those farms will be limited to parcels of 10 acres or more in rural zones.

Many residents of the Redmond Ridge housing development told council members that they were concerned about pot farms in their community. But no formal proposal for a farm in Redmond Ridge was presented at the meeting.

King County Executive Dow Constantine will need to sign off on the legislation. Once that happens, the plan take effect after 10 days.