CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE related to the regulation of marijuana businesses; adding a new Chapter 6.500 to the Seattle Municipal Code; amending Ordinance 124648, which adopted the 2015 Budget, changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, making cash transfers between various City funds; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.
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WHEREAS, the residents of the State of Washington voted in favor of Initiative 692 creating the Medical Use of Marijuana Act (MUCA);
WHEREAS, the MUCA does not create any legal right to grow, process, or distribute medical marijuana but only allows for an affirmative defense for patients and providers;
WHEREAS, Initiative 502 was passed statewide and by voters in the state of Washington;
WHEREAS, public support for Initiative 502 was in large part driven by the desire to end criminalization of marijuana production, processing, and distribution;
WHEREAS, Initiative 502 creates a highly regulated system for the production, processing and distribution of marijuana for adult use;
WHEREAS, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) has allowed for the provision of 21 retail marijuana stores within the City of Seattle;
WHEREAS, 14 recreational marijuana retail stores have opened in the City of Seattle as of June 2, 2015;
WHEREAS, the Department of Finance and Administrative Services and the Department of Planning and Development have determined that there are approximately 99 medical marijuana retailers operating without licenses issued by the LCB in the City of Seattle;
WHEREAS, an estimated 54 marijuana retailers without state licenses have established operations in the City of Seattle since January 1, 2013;
WHEREAS, there have been numerous armed robberies and thefts of unlicensed marijuana businesses, endangering staff at these establishments and the surrounding comm...
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