Bellevue considers banning legal pot businesses

The city of Bellevue is considering a ban on recreational marijuana businesses, even though 59 percent of the voters approved Initiative 502.

The Bellevue City Council voted Monday night to direct staff to prepare for a possible ban on legal pot businesses, The Seattle Times reports. Councilmembers also voted to extend interim rules for another six months that allow state-licensed growers, processors and retailers but restrict where they can operate.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson recently issued an advisory opinion that cities and counties can block legal marijuana businesses, prompting the City Council’s move.

Several councilmembers have expressed opposition to the manufacture and sale of marijuana in Bellevue, with new member Lynne Robinson saying she would prevent legal pot businesses if she could.

Other councilmembers at the meeting called a ban “short-sighted,” and said the city should honor the voters’ will.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board received 22 producer, 13 processor and 56 retail applications for Bellevue locations. Officials have allocated four of the proposed 334 statewide retail stores to Bellevue, the Times reports.

If the city wants to ban legal pot businesses, it’ll have to move fast. The state could issue licenses for Bellevue businesses at any time, and they would be legally grandfathered and not subject to a subsequent ban.