Everett Planning Commission to Consider Extending “Emergency” Marijuana Moratorium Beyond 1 Year

Last July, the Everett City Council declared an emergency and passed two ordinances that covered collective gardens for medical marijuana. The first allowed collective gardens in the city’s agricultural zone which lies in the central-eastern part of the city off the Lowell-Larimer road. The second established an emergency moratorium on applications for the collective gardens for a period of one year. At the time the city said it needed time to study the issue further and instructed staff to follow a work plan that would review existing laws and regulations, monitor disputes between the State and Feds regarding medical marijuana and review laws and their effects in other jurisdictions. That one year time frame is rapidly approaching and Tuesday the Everett Planning Commission is holding a public hearing regarding extending the ban on applications past the initial year authorized by the City Council. The Planning Commission hearing is set for Tuesday night, June 16th at the Weyerhaeuser room of Everett Station at 3201 Smith Street. For more information on the hearing you can contact Everett’s Planning Department at (425) 257-8731.