Ketchikan City Council to revisit marijuana law

KETCHIKAN — Ketchikan officials are set to take another look at regulations surrounding the retail sale of marijuana.

The City Council will meet Monday to reconsider the council’s Dec. 3 vote to prohibit the retail sale of marijuana in city limits, The Ketchikan Daily News reported.

The vote meant that City Attorney Mitch Seaver would have to draft an ordinance that would have allowed Ketchikan to opt out of the retail component allowed by Ballot Measure 2, which legalized the personal use and retail sale of marijuana.

Councilwoman Julie Isom was the one who had called for reconsideration of the vote.

The decision came after the council was criticized for not stating in its agenda that a vote would take place. The agenda item only noted that there would be a “discussion of whether to allow retail marijuana businesses within city limits.”

Councilman Bob Sivertsen said if the council does vote to reconsider its vote for prohibition, he plans to have additional action deferred at least until the spring. He wants to put off the council’s vote until state regulations are approved, which is some time by late February.

“Holding off on permits until the regulations are out makes sense,” Sivertsen said in a phone interview. “I don’t know if it will change anybody’s mind, but it gives a proper process to the public and everyone a good chance to think about it.”

Information from: Ketchikan Daily News,

www.ketchikandailynews.com

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