Guest: Why Poulsbo is banning marijuana stores, gardens

As Washington state’s first legal recreational marijuana stores open this week under Initiative 502, Poulsbo will not be welcoming such retail operations, writes guest columnist Ed Stern.

By Ed Stern
Special to The Times

A FEW weeks ago the Poulsbo City Council unanimously voted to institute a ban on recreational marijuana businesses and collective gardens.

As Washington state’s first legal recreational marijuana stores open this week under Initiative 502, Poulsbo will not be welcoming such retail operations.

In voting to ban such businesses, Poulsbo joined a handful of other cities in Washington, including Wenatchee, Centralia and Fife. A state attorney general’s opinion in January stated that Initiative 502 did not preclude local government authority to regulate matters within its jurisdiction.

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