Yakima Isn’t the Only City Not Putting Out Welcome Mat to Pot

Sales of recreational marijuana are due to start in Washington around late spring, but there's no welcome mat for pot businesses in dozens of cities around the state.

The Associated Press reports that a new Seattle-based marijuana think tank called The Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy surveyed the 75 most populous cities in Washington to look at how local governments are handling Washington's legal pot law, Initiative 502.

The survey found that a few cities have effectively banned or threatened to ban pot businesses until the drug is legalized federally, and just under three dozen, ranging from Redmond to Pullman, have imposed moratoriums of six months to one year.

Officials in 23 cities have passed zoning rules dictating where the pot shops, gardens and processing facilities can open, and 14 of the cities had taken no action.

The City of Yakima, and Yakima County have placed a moratorium on marijuana. Both jurisdictions are considering bans on the production and sale of marijuana.

According to the latest list from the state Liquor Control Board.There are now 22 applications for marijuana retail stores in Yakima County.  Yakima County also has 65 applications for marijuana producer licenses.