Under the ordinance approved on a 5-2 vote Monday night, retail sales, along with production and processing will be limited to the light manufacturing zone along Highway 20 at March Point.
Council members Matt Miller and Eric Johnson cast votes against the measure, both indicating a preference to extending the nearly year-old moratorium for another year.
Instead of lifting the moratorium, Johnson proposed forming a pot implementation task force designed to answer numerous questions. “How can we vote on something when we don’t know how much impact one sip will have here,” he asked.
Miller said he agreed on extending the moratorium, saying, “I’d rather have Anacortes lead in the maritime industry than in marijuana. I don’t think the state is ready.”
Other Council members disagreed. Council member Liz Lovelett said she was against continuing the moratorium out of fear, “I like regulation to keep an eye on it.”
Council member John Archibald said he has used marijuana for medical reasons and, “It’s not a good idea to have it in the commercial zone.”
Council member Erica Pickett said she sees some protection in legalizing pot sales. “It goes some protection that it’s not laced with other dangerous drugs.”
The ordinance, as proposed by city staff, would have allowed the one state-regulated retailer to set up shop in the city’s commercial district. Because of state regulations on distances from public places, the shop would have needed to be located on Commercial Ave., somewhere between 17th St. and 20th St.
But, during the discussion Monday night, Council member Miller proposed removing the commercial district from the ordinance and allowing pot sales only in the light manufacturing district. All Council members except Ryan Walters approved the amendment.
Under the state pot lottery, one retail operation will be allowed in Anacortes, in addition to several production and processing facilities.