Local News

A Benton County Superior Court judge ruled that local governments can ban recreational pot businesses, according to a news release from the state Attorney General’s Office. It’s the third ruling that supports localities preventing pot businesses from operating, and it hews closely to the informal opinion presented by state Attorney General Bob Ferguson earlier this year. “Three judges in…

A Chelan County judge ruled cities and counties can ban pot businesses, according to a news release from the State Attorney General’s office, which intervened in the case. The ruling agrees with that of a Pierce County judge about a similar case regarding the city of Fife. In Fife, a prospective marijuana retailer was suing the city and hoped…

The plaintiff challenging the city of Fife’s ban on marijuana businesses plans to appeal a Pierce County Superior judge’s ruling on the case. Pierce County judge Ronald E. Culpepper last month upheld the city’s ban on marijuana businesses, saying the state law legalizing pot did not mandate cities to allow them. Mark Nelson, who represents MMH, the company…

The State Attorney General’s office outlined its argument Monday in a court case that could make or break Washington’s marijuana law. In July, the city of Fife approved an outright ban on marijuana businesses. A prospective pot store is suing the city in Pierce County Superior Court and hopes to overturn the ban. The case could cement Washington’s pot law…

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson will intervene in three pot lawsuits against the cities of Wenatchee and Fife, according to a news release from his office.  Both cities have imposed laws that essentially ban recreational pot businesses legalized statewide when voters passed Initiative 502. Ferguson will enter the lawsuits “to defend Initiative 502, not to support the plaintiffs’ or…