In a move that opens the door to state-licensed retail marijuana businesses, Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy has blocked a proposed county ordinance that would have asked the county's Planning Commission to consider amendments to county regulations for producing and selling. McCarthy's veto June 30 of the County Council-approved ordinance sent the measure back to the council and ensured that marijuana may be legally used countywide as of July 1, subject to state and county regulations and enforcement. In a letter to the council, McCarthy noted that Pierce County voters joined the rest of the state in 2012 to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational uses. "My job as an elected official requires me to advance the will of the majority of (our) citizens,GÇ¥ she said. Last December, the council dropped a county requirement that in order for sellers of marijuana to obtain county permits, they must prove that marijuana isn't a federal-controlled substance and thus illegal under federal law. That change, which affects unincorporated areas of the county, was scheduled to take effect July 1 this year. But the council also ordered an advisory ballot measure in April to gauge the opinion of county voters on whether to allow state-licensed marijuana businesses. The non-binding result had 52 percent of the participating voters in favor of a ban. Councilwoman Joyce McDonald cited that opposition, plus concerns about negative medical and societal impacts of marijuana, in a proposed new ban that the council voted in June to give to the Planning Commission for a review of its land-use implications. Council members conceded that McCarthy would probably veto the proposed ordinance and that there weren't enough of them who would vote to overturn a veto. "This topic has been the subject of studies, debates and votes for many years. Quite frankly, the time has come to move forward, be diligent, and effectively and efficiently implement the production, processing and sale of marijuana in Pierce County,GÇ¥ McCarthy said. Councilman Doug Richardson said a drug enforcement fund created by the council will be used by the Sheriff Department and prosecutors in any cases of non-compliance with state laws.
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