By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – If a person can get a federal permit to grow marijuana, then Lewis County officials will allow them to apply for a local permit to create a so-called collective medical marijuana garden in unincorporated portions of the county.
That’s the gist of the proposal Lewis County commissioners will take public comment upon and then vote on Jan. 23.
A draft of the expected new ordinance should be available on Jan. 11, county commissioners said yesterday.
A state law went into effect last summer allowing up to 10 medical marijuana patients to grow their cannabis in a single plot, but county officials put a moratorium in place while they studied the issue.
While state law allows it, marijuana is still illegal under federal law, a contradiction commissioners say they were attempting to address.
Lewis County Civil Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Carter told the three commissioners yesterday federal permission is hard to get, but named at least one facility in the country which has obtained one.
Commissioner Bill Schulte said the “climate” for such approval by the federal government could change in the future.
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For background, read “County leaders want your opinions on how to grow (medical) marijuana” from Tuesday August 2, 2011, here [1]