Marijuana retailers will not be opening in Woodland anytime soon, as the City Council voted against allowing product sales within the city’s light industrial district.
On Jan. 2, Woodland City Council discussed the future of ordinance 1548, regarding the zoning of cannabis retail to the light industrial district. The ordinance failed to pass during its final reading in a nearly unanimous vote.
Ordinance 1548 first appeared at Woodland City Council during a workshop on Nov. 20. During the meeting, council members amended the ordinance proposed by the city planning commission, changing the retail zoning from the highway commercial district, C-2, to light industrial.
During the final reading on Jan. 2, the council considered amending the ordinance once again, changing the zoning back to C-2.
“I am against having it in light industrial,” Melissa Doughty said. “If we’re going to vote on it, it needs to be where our Planning Commission suggested.”
The motion failed with a 5-2 vote, with Doughty and Gabe Huston in support.
The council proceeded to vote on approval of ordinance 1548 as presented, which failed 6-1. Only Monte Smith voted in favor of the ordinance.
Multiple Woodland residents joined the council meeting, expressing concerns regarding the ordinance during public comment.
Health teacher Terry Marvin spoke against it, stating that marijuana sales within Woodland would damage the city and endanger its youth.
“It is killing a generation of people through its gateway entrance to harder drugs,” Marvin said.
Resident Elisha Johnson described himself as a “teetotaler,” who would not partake in cannabis but supported approving the ordinance.
“If you don’t like it, don’t partake,” Johnson said. “Education is the best countermeasure. Allowing people a way to access it safely is better than banning it.”
With cannabis sales legal in the state, Woodland will likely have to address the issue again in the future.
