Bloglander

Hopeful entrepreneurs looking to set up medical marijuana dispensaries may hit a new road block. City council members are considering a moratorium on new dispensaries until they can hammer out how the city will zone and regulate recreational stores under Initiative 502.

Because the city of Spokane has no special zoning for dispensaries — they can be in any area zoned for retail — council members worry that the current lack of enforcement of pot possession (because 502 legalized possession but regulation hasn't yet been straightened out yet) is encouraging too many dispensaries.

"There's no one to disapprove a medical marijuana store," Salvatori said. "I thought there was some natural [zoning] limit but if there's no natural limit it would make sense to do a moratorium just pending more review."

Council President Ben Stuckart and members Jon Snyder, Amber Waldref, Mike Fagan and Steve Salvatori were at a work session where Salvatori proposed the idea today.

The group also said it would hold an open house or public forum to take public comment on what other city regulations should be considered as I-502 implementation continues. 

Meanwhile, the state legislature is considering a tax on medical marijuana to help keep recreational pot competitive with the largely unregulated medical market. 

Get high on some City Hall Eyeball right here.