These aren’t the kind of “community gardens” most folks had in mind. Collective medical marijuana gardens become legal today as determined by the Legislature earlier this year.
But this dramatic shift toward legalized growing of cannabis for medical use won’t happen for several months in many municipalities around the state, including here. Vancouver city councilors made the proper decision on Monday — just as Clark County commissioners made the correct call last week — to postpone implementing the state’s new law that allows collective medical marijuana gardens. Both governing bodies have wisely decided that more time is needed to establish zoning regulations for the gardens. Vancouver City Attorney Ted Gathe got it right: “Without further state guidance, it’s not possible for cities at this time,” thus the six-month moratoriums that were enacted at both the county and city levels.
The issue at hand is not any lingering debate about collective medical marijuana gardens. That figurative train left the station on April 29 when Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law several sections of Senate Bill 5073. (Local legislators voted on this measure along party lines — Democrats for, Republicans against — with two exceptions. State Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, voted for it, and state Rep. Tim Probst, D-Vancouver, voted against it.)
The current issue regards not if, but how, to implement the new law. This no longer is a drug debate; it’s a zoning matter. Rational minds should agree that collective medical marijuana gardens should not be allowed near schools, parks, churches, business districts and neighborhoods. Cmdr. Mike Cooke of the Clark-Skamania Drug Task Force told the county commissioners that industrial zones might be one appropriate area, and we agree.