The Vancouver City Council has extended its moratorium on collective medical marijuana gardens until Dec. 31, giving planners more time to fit them into city code.
The moratorium, approved Monday night, puts on hold the location, operation, licensing, maintenance or continuation of medical marijuana collective gardens or dispensaries. Collective gardens are permissible under state law but illegal under federal law.
The extension, staff members said, will give time to determine appropriate zoning districts, siting criteria, and standards to address potential secondary impacts such as noise, lights and odors.
The moratorium also gives city planners time to study what changes, if any, will be necessary if voter Initiative 502, which seeks to legalize the distribution, possession and use of marijuana generally and not just for medical purposes, passes in November.
The Clark County Board of Commissioners last week extended its moratorium on the commercial gardens until June 2013, but the ban could be lifted as soon as zoning rules and other conditions are in place.
