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March 18, 2011 at 8:56am

UPDATED: Tacoma officials order medical marijuana dispensaries to close (again)

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THIS SEEMS VAGUELY FAMILIAR >>>

City of Tacoma's Tax & Licensing Division has summarily revoked the business licenses of at least 19 medical marijuana dispensaries within the city limits. Dispensary owners received letters yesterday, March 17, demanding that they cease to operate by March 28 or face fines and penalties, up to and including criminal prosecution.

This comes less than six months after Tacoma officials promised to  grant amnesty to dispensaries pending legal clarification likely to be provided during this year's legislative session. Since then, several other cities, including Federal Way and Fife, have offered similar moratoriums to dispensaries.  Meanwhile, two bills are currently moving through legislative process. House Bill 1550 and SB 5073, which has been approved by the State Senate, would each in their own way provide for legal operation of dispensaries. Both bills, especially SB 5073, have received criticism from patient and co-op advocates.

Last October City of Tacoma officials overruled similar orders sent by Tax & Licensing which, working hand-in-hand with Tacoma Police advisors, had ordered eight dispensaries to close. Following delivery of the orders, patients and advocates rallied outside City Hall, only to be told that city officials had decided to enact an emergency moratorium until the state legislature had a chance to clarify what has been criticized as a poorly written state law. Tacoma's moratorium came with the message that city officials were not "in favor of getting between patients who have a legitimate medical need and access to that medicine."

Has that changed?

UPDATE: Shortly after posting this blog, the City of Tacoma's Rob McNair-Huff attempted to add clarification in our comment section.

"This action is the same as what took place last fall, and we are asking the 19 new businesses to follow the same process - file an appeal and we won't pursue the appeal until the state legislature has finished its consideration of updating the medical marijuana laws so that there is more clarity," writes McNair-Huff.

UPDATE: The Weekly Volcano was able to catch up with McNair-Huff this morning in hopes he could further explain the situation.

City of Tacoma spokesman Rob McNair-Huff says the action was a procedural one, and encouraged dispensary owners to file appeals. City officials will extend the same offer that was extended to the eight dispensaries that received similar letters in October - file your appeal, and no action will be taken until the state legislature has a chance to provide clear legal guidelines for operating dispensaries. The action was necessary, McNair-Huff says, because Tacoma's bank of dispensaries has grown from eight to 29 since October, and that new dispensaries needed to occupy the same legal space as their predecessors. City of Tacoma officials are working with medical marijuana advocates such as Washington Cannabis Association to reach out to dispensary owners who may be confused about the city's intentions.

"We don't want to get between patients and their medicine. Our statement still stands," says Mc Nair-Huff. "We just want to bring everybody up to the same level so we can deal with these companies in the same way pending action from the state legislature."

UPDATE: Here's a copy of the letter sent to Tacoma medical marijuana dispensaries yesterday, which the city calls "procedural."

Filed under: Community, Politics, Tacoma,

Comments for "UPDATED: Tacoma officials order medical marijuana dispensaries to close (again) " (6)

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Rob McNair-Huff said on Mar. 18, 2011 at 9:09am

This action is the same as what took place last fall, and we are asking the 19 new businesses to follow the same process - file an appeal and we won't pursue the appeal until the state legislature has finished its consideration of updating the medical marijuana laws so that there is more clarity.

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Andrew Bacon said on Mar. 18, 2011 at 9:30am

Because it's so much easier than just leaving them alone until the legislation finishes its work on the bills. Oh wait. It's a giant PITA for all those business. Why do this?

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DefCon1 said on Mar. 18, 2011 at 10:36am

It's because none of these businesses possess the proper federal tax stamp for sale of marijuana. oh wait, NOONE EVER HAS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marihuana_Tax_Act_of_1937

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camie said on Mar. 19, 2011 at 8:07am

I am a patient and personally I feel that some dispensoraries are being INCOMPLIANT however most are holding up to the rules. I feel that some people that have their card with some of these mild conditions shouldn't be able to have them.
However those people make up only a very small percentage. For the rest of us who are legit this medicine is a very cheep alternative.
I do not want to pay 40 dollars a pill to feel better! Plus when a doctor is prescribing somewhere around 120 pilld every 2 weeks it takes a toll on the body.
The federal government and the states need to figure this out! It is a medicine and needs to start being treated like one!!

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Larry Mondello said on Mar. 20, 2011 at 10:58pm

Oh Well, Back to the underground - the way we have been getting our meds for 70 years - not taxed even! Cant you leave well enough alone!

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mark suchoza said on May. 19, 2011 at 6:58am

why was i allowed to take oxycontin but vhave no way to purchase my medical weed? what ever happened to of the people, by the people and for the people? legalize it, tax it and erase our national debt! ten million man march on d.c. for this!

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