Tacoma City Council will hold a public hearing on Tues., Sept. 27 at approximately 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, First Floor, to discuss a moratorium on medical cannabis dispensaries and collective gardens. City Council is seeking public input on whether the emergency moratorium should be retained as-is, withdrawn, extended for an additional six months as recommended by the Planning Commission, or further modified. This public hearing is on the need for and duration of the emergency moratorium and not to seek comment on permitting, regulating, or licensing medical marijuana collective gardens or medical marijuana dispensaries.

On Aug. 2, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 28010 placing a six-month moratorium on the establishment, location, operation, licensing, permitting, maintenance or continuation of medical marijuana collective gardens or medical marijuana dispensaries. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow the City time to review recent changes in state law and consider potential changes to the City’s regulations and requirements.

Additional information, including Ordinance No. 28010 establishing the moratorium, and the Planning Commission’s Findings of Facts and Recommendation is available from the Community and Economic Development Department, 747 Market Street, Room 1036, and on the Planning Division’s Web site at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/planning (click on “Medical Cannabis Moratorium”).

You can testify at the public hearing or provide written comments addressed to the City Clerk, 747 Market Street, Room 220, Tacoma, WA 98402, by facsimile at (253) 591-5300, or via e-mail using the link at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/citycouncil .