Commissioners will consider marijuana, dike moratoriums

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday agreed to proceed with development of ordinances that would place moratoriums on marijuana production and breaching of dikes in the county.

According to Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow, a moratorium is a period of time in which county officials should develop a plan to address the issues.

The board will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinances on April 1, and it may adopt the ordinances at that time.

Marijuana production opposed

Changes in state law now permit growing, processing and sales of legal marijuana. Two firms have applied for state licenses to grow marijuana on Puget Island.

About 34 persons were in the audience; several urged the commissioners to adopt the moratorium to set an example of opposition to recreational drug use. Only one person spoke in favor of allowing the operation of marijuana production facilities.

Cathlamet resident Deb Howie, a school bus driver, Cathlamet business owner, and wife of Sheriff Mark Howie, was one of several speakers to urge the board to consider the message children would perceive if county officials approved production of marijuana.

Paula Cothren, wife of commission Chair Dan Cothren, echoed Howie's concern and added that increased use of drugs could have an adverse impact on schools, families and the community. She suggested the commission form an advisory committee to work through the issue.

Tammy Peterson spoke of her son who died of a drug overdose. She said marijuana use leads to use of harder drugs, and that research studies show that marijuana adversely impacts the developing brains of young people.

Two Wahkiakum High School students, Tarynn Peterson, Tammy Peterson's daughter, and Lanie Ferguson, both said they were very opposed to marijuana use and its ill effects.

Jennifer Cothren Berkshire, daughter of Paula and Commissioner Dan Cothren, said that teenagers have told her that marijuana is easy to obtain and that teens regard it as similar to alcohol.

"If we make it more available, they'll use it," she said.

Sheriff Mark Howie said the county should tightly control the location and do whatever it can to make sure that any permitted operations are secure, otherwise problems could drain county resources.

"It is a fact that when there is manufacturing and processing of marijuana, usage goes up," he said. "When its acceptable and available, usage goes up."

Commissioner Cothren read two letters to the board. One writer said growing operations would be "attractive nuisances" that need to be tightly regulated. The other came from the mother of a teenage boy whose behavior changed completely when he began using marijuana.

Commissioners gave their comments on the issue.

Commissioner Mike Backman led off by chastising people who would say any of the commissioners were for drugs.

He said that he likes the idea of a group who would explore the issue to develop a good approach to dealing with production issues.

Backman added that he favors strong prevention programs, and that alcohol is often the first drug people abuse, and that needs to be addressed.

Commissioner Cothren reiterated previous statements in opposition to marijuana production.

"These people have values," he said speaking of those who opposed marijuana production. "We're setting a bad example."

Commissioner Blair Brady supported the moratorium but commented that the issue is a statewide issue.

"The bottom line is that voters approved it," he said. "It's a state law that we have to follow." He added that the legislature was unable to agree on any rules that would have clarified how local jurisdictions can regulate marijuana production.

Chris Bianchi, a partner in one of two businesses who have applied for a state Liquor Control Board permit to operate a growing operation, urged the commission to develop policies that would allow production of marijuana as permitted by law.

Bianchi said he totally agrees with people who have concerns about the impacts of drugs on families. However, the tax revenue that marijuana production could generate could be channeled into prevention programs and other programs, which are often underfunded, that would benefit the community.

He said he liked the idea of an advisory group that would work through the issues.

"This is going to happen," he said. "Let's do it right."

Dike breaching opposed

Commissioners also agreed to consider a moratorium on breaching of dikes, a practice associated with wetland development.

Poul Toftemark and Carol Larson, members of the board of commissioners of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District, said dike breaching often has unintended consequences.

Toftemark referred to a project that is now causing erosion of private dikes away from the project site.

"We need to have proper studies of the effects of dike breaching on neighboring property," he said.

Phil Vik, a member of the Diking District 1 board of commissioners, and Mike Linn, a Diking District 5 commissioner, both agreed.

Dave Price, Restoration Division Manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, agreed that breaching is an important issue and offered to work with any committee assigned to look into the issue.