Sensible Washington<\/a>, a Seattle-based group that supports marijuana legalization, to send a letter Friday to the City Council to vote down the proposed ban.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nSensible Washington, the group behind the petition in Kent and other cities to make marijuana offenses the lowest law enforcement priority, plans a rally at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to oppose the medical marijuana dispensary ban.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Higgins said he opposes the ban. Higgins joined Perry and Elizabeth Albertson in favor of a zoning ordinance for collective gardens that failed to get a majority vote in January. The three also voted in January against the current six-month moratorium to ban medical marijuana dispensaries.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Council members Boyce, Ranniger, Les Thomas and Dana Ralph voted in favor of the six-month moratorium and are in favor of the proposed ban. They favor a ban because federal law prohibits the use of marijuana, even though state law allows medical marijuana use. Boyce has said he favors a ban rather than passing another moratorium.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Higgins said it looks like the ban will pass on a 4-3 vote.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“I don’t expect it to change but it would be a happy surprise,” Higgins said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The council will vote on the ban under the other business part of the meeting’s agenda. There is no public hearing, but those who attend the meeting can comment during the public comment period scheduled on the agenda before the vote on the ban.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“I’m not in favor of casual use or criminal activity,” Higgins said. “But I think we have a responsibility to provide access to those with legitimate medical need.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke supports a ban of medical marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Until medical marijuana is legal in some form at the federal level, it’ll create a disconnect on enforcement no matter how far our state liberalizes the law,” Cooke said.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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