Hearings examiner reminds attendees that marijuana businesses are legal in county

DAYTON—Emotions ran high at last week’s public hearing on the application for a conditional use permit by Trailhead Cannabis Co. owner Kathy Sali of Yakima. Sali plans to operate a retail cannabis store at 36711 Hwy. 12, in Columbia County, just west of Dayton.

Sali was not present at the meeting, and no testimony from her was taken.

Nine local residents spoke before the Columbia County Hearings Examiner Andrew Kottkamp about their reasons for opposing a recreational marijuana retail store in the county. They were, Sandra Conklin, Henrych Suchodolski, Charles Ketterman, Miriam Davis, Greg Brownell, Jim Suewga, Linda Hermanns, Fred Giacci, and Darlene Lambert.

Concerns cited by them included that marijuana is a gateway drug, that the store’s intended location is too close to a church where children gather, and that the location at the west end of Dayton would send the wrong message about the community to people visiting the area.

Other concerns were about traffic congestion, negative impacts to families whose members are under the influence of marijuana, the potential for rising traffic accidents, negative impacts for those seeking employment and who fail to pass random drug testing, and the fact that the marijuana use is against federal law.

“We already have a problem in this town. We don’t need any more,” said Darlene Lambert, about perceived drug use in the community.

Local resident Genie Crowe said that while she doesn’t condone marijuana use for people under 21, she is in favor of the store’s potential to generate revenue. She also noted that the criteria for proper zoning has been met.

Kottkamp pointed out that the Columbia County Planning Commission has recommended approval of the application for the CUP, and he also noted that the criteria for proper zoning has been met.

“I don’t want there to be any false expectations,” he said. “I can’t make the law for the state of Washington, the county, or the City of Dayton. The Board of County Commissioners has made the decision on this.”

The commissioners voted in 2015 to allow marijuana businesses in the county, subject to certain conditions.

Kottkamp explained that his role as an appointee of the commissioners is to be satisfied that the criteria are met before granting the conditional use permit to the applicant. He also noted the applicant’s absence at the hearing, and he went on to say it would be up to her to prove the criteria are being met.

“Everything said today did not fall on deaf ears,” Kottkamp told those at the hearing.

Kottkamp said he will take into consideration all written and oral testimony, and that he will make a final decision within ten days.