Vote: Should Tri-Cities allow retail cannabis shops inside city limits?
Where retail cannabis shops are allowed to come in has long been a debate in the Tri-Cities, with local leaders fighting to keep the stores out of city limits.
Currently the only retail cannabis shops are in the Finley area, just outside West Richland and in the Prosser area.
Pasco is considering allowing the first retail cannabis shops in the city limits, possibly just in industrial areas. The conversation has shifted now to whether it’s appropriate to expect minority-heavy and low-income areas to shoulder the burden, and the potential negative impacts. They’re now considering expanding to industrial and commercial zones.
Based on the city’s population, Pasco could have up to four stores, but restricting them to industrial zones areas would put them almost entirely east of Highway 395 and North 4th Avenue to Glade North Road.
Current state restrictions also place a 1,000-foot buffer around schools and parks where they would not be allowed.
When overlaying those restrictions, it would create an area that already sees high traffic from commuters and industrial areas.
That’s left the Pasco City Council considering putting the issue to voters. If Pasco voters approve allowing shops in the city limits, that may prompt Kennewick, Richland and West Richland to do the same.
In Washington state, restrictions on alcohol sales near schools and parks are much less strict than retail cannabis sales.
Washington also still has COVID-related “Liquor to go” rules in place until July 2023.
Should restrictions on where retail cannabis can be sold be relaxed to match liquor sales? Should retail cannabis only be sold in industrial areas, if it’s allowed to be sold in city limits at all?
We want to know what you think. Vote now in our newest reader poll.
This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
