Should Benton County ban pot production? Debate continues

The Benton County Commission plans to tackle marijuana production and processing again Tuesday.

The board continues a public hearing on its emergency moratorium against production and processing when it meets at 9 a.m.

The county adopted a temporary moratorium in November and heard from dozens of people with strong views on legal marijuana at a Dec. 5 public hearing.

The commission agreed to continue the interim emergency rules and develop ordinances that incorporate findings of fact and continue the ban. This week’s session is a continuation of the hearing.

Benton County previously adopted a ban on future marijuana retailers, capping it at the four currently authorized in the county.

The county has struggled to contain the unexpected fallout of the move to legalize recreational marijuana in Washington state since news emerged that the state was authorizing a marijuana retailer to open in an unincorporated sliver of land bordering the city of West Richland.

Commissioners also have come under fire for the smell of harvested marijuana wafting over Finley schools in the fall.

Washington voters approved legal marijuana in 2012.

The measure lost by wide margins in both Benton and Franklin counties, which led most local jurisdictions to ban marijuana businesses before they could take root. Benton County did not initially adopt a ban.

The public can attend in person at the Prosser courthouse, 620 Market St., or by video conference at the justice center, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Should Benton County ban pot production? Debate continues."