King County lifts moratorium on marijuana businesses

SEATTLE – King County has lifted its temporary ban on legal marijuana businesses in unincorporated areas.

The Seattle Times reports that the Metropolitan King County Council voted 5-3 Monday to allow licensed pot operations, with some limitations to address the concerns of rural residents. Those include that marijuana grow operations can be located only on parcels of 10 acres or more.

Before the council adopted the moratorium in April, marijuana farms were allowed in all “rural area” zones.

The council also voted to require 1,000-foot buffers between retail stores. That was in response to complaints that pot shops were clustering in Skyway, White Center and other poorer parts of the county.