Southeast Washington county to vote on pot production ban

PROSSER — Officials in a southeast Washington county will consider an emergency ordinance to ban new marijuana production and processing for six months.

The Tri-City Herald reports Benton County commissioners will vote Tuesday on the ordinance in Prosser.

Like a current retail ban, it would only affect new operators. It would not apply to the 47 cannabis producers and 35 processors with physical addresses in Benton County.

Benton County planning manager Jerrod MacPherson says the ban would end after six months unless the county commission acts to extend it or make it permanent.

Benton County has struggled with the unexpected consequences of recreational marijuana for much of the year.

Washington voters approved Initiative 502 in 2012. It passed statewide by 56 percent to 44 percent. Benton County voters rejected the measure.