Cannabis shop proposal could force debate over Richland pot ban. Here’s where it stands
Richland residents won’t get a city-sponsored forum to debate the longstanding ban on cannabis sales in the near future.
A January request to authorize a cannabis store at Horn Rapids would have given residents a chance to tell the planning commission and the city council their thoughts on the matter.
But the request is on hold and there are no immediate plans to put it on a future agenda.
Fire Cannabis Co. applied to amend city codes so it could open a store at 2415 Robertson Drive in January. Co-owner Shanna Kaiser confirmed the request is on hold out of respect for the city’s need to take a bigger look at the issue.
The business has stores in Omak and Yakima and is part of a larger network with stores across the state.
“We are hopeful (the) city council will follow its constituency and make the right choice in proper deliberation,” Kaiser said.
The city confirmed that Fire requested the hold in a statement attributed to Heather Kintzley, the city’s attorney.
“We will move the matter forward in and among the flow of other competing priorities,” the statement said.
Would be first
If Fire Cannabis had succeeded, their store would be the first legal cannabis outlet in city limits. Residents have several options for legal cannabis or marijuana stores in Pasco and spots just outside West Richland and Kennewick.
Kintzley, the city attorney, briefed the city council about Fire’s request during an April workshop, ostensibly to assess what Richland’s current elected leaders think about the controversial ban.
At the time, she advised that staff would recommend against the shop because the code amendment wouldn’t create a full legal framework for cannabis shops to operate in the city.
The discussion prompted an informal council survey that showed a 4-3 split in favor of retaining the ban.
Councilmembers Ryan Lukson, Johanna Jones and Kurt Maier favor allowing cannabis. Mayor Theresa Richardson, Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Kent and Councilmen Ryan Whitten and Shayne VanDyke indicated they don’t.
Watching West Richland
Voters in neighboring West Richland will advise their elected city council about lifting that city’s cannabis ban in the Aug. 6 primary election. Ballots will be mailed July 19.
Richland leaders said they aren’t interested in their own advisory ballot, but said they’ll watch the results in West Richland with interest.
Richland banned cannabis retail sales after Washington voters legalized recreational use via Initiative 502 in 2012, which passed with 55.7% of the statewide vote.
The law took effect the following year and allowed licensed retailers to sell heavily-taxed and tested cannabis products.
Richland isn’t alone. Kennewick, Pasco, West Richland and Franklin County enacted local bans, reflecting the initiative’s unpopularity with Mid-Columbia voters.
Benton County enacted a ban on new businesses in 2018, after cannabis shops opened in unincorporated corners of the community, including Finley (Green2Go) and at the West Richland border (Nirvana).
Pasco eliminated its ban in 2023 on a 4-3 city council vote. Lucky Leaf and Green2Go opened last November, on Road 68 and near Road 90. Benton City and Prosser also allow cannabis sales.
While cannabis use is legal in Washington, the state’s deference to local control means the laws are applied haphazardly. MSRC reports 81 cities and six counties on both sides of the state prohibit cannabis.
Washington imposes a 37% excise tax on cannabis retail sales, in addition to the standard sales tax and as well as business and occupation taxes. Jurisdictions that ban cannabis receive no share of the revenue.
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