Yesterday, the Metropolitan King County Council adopted legislation to create more geographic equity in the placement of retail marijuana locations while reducing the number of residential areas that will be available for the production and processing of cannabis in the unincorporated communities of King County.

“The Council came together and creatively addressed the complicated issues surrounding this young industry’s challenging beginning,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles. “The Council listened to our communities’ outcry, including those whose voices are not as well heard. The inequity faced in White Center and Skyway now can be alleviated, vast rural residential areas are spared from taking on facilities not allowed in other King County neighborhoods, and close and consistent access to cannabis products is improved county-wide. Though we have not achieved perfection, we made steps toward ensuring a better system. And while the Liquor & Cannabis Board needs to drastically improve its job of honoring the spirit and letter of I-502 and providing a better framework for us to work with, King County can still do much more to honor the voter's intent with I-502. I look forward to working further with my colleagues to ensure this outcome.”

The approved ordinance refines existing county land use regulations concerning the growth, processing, and retail sale of marijuana. Included in the adopted ordinance are measures to:

- Remove all parcels under 10 acres and designated as Rural Area (RA) zones from use in the production (growth), processing, and retail sale of marijuana.

- Requires 1000’ separation between new retail locations and existing retail locations.

- Approve studies on potential retail and processing in specific zoning designations across the county.

- Requires the County Executive to identify 10 locations suitable for retail in Neighborhood Business (NB) zoned areas across unincorporated King County, with a maximum of 2 per council district.