City considering allowing marijuana retailing

Electric City’s planning group is looking at its current zoning to see where a marijuana retail store might be located.

The city council instructed staff and the city’s planner last week to take a look at the city’s current zoning to determine where any possible marijuana retail store might be located within the city.

The city staff, along with its professional planner, has been handed the duties of the planning commission after its members resigned over the recent flap on the size of accessory buildings.

City Clerk Jackie Perman said the council decided that a marijuana retail store was a legitimate business and wanted information on where one might be located.

At the same time, the council voted another six-month moratorium on the issue to give planners time to identify where a retail outlet might be located.

During discussions, on the matter at the July 21 council meeting, Councilmember Aaron Derr stated that the city should get in the marijuana business and run the store itself. He was apparently thinking of the revenue flow such a store might generate.

No one in the council picked up on that suggestion. However, it was noted that a majority of Electric City voters cast their ballots in favor of Initiative 502 in the November, 2012 election, which made recreational marijuana legal under state law.

That vote was 239 in favor and 220 against. Grand Coulee had a more favorable vote with 226 for the Initiative and 151 against.