Brewster rejects cannabis store proposal for second time in four years

BREWSTER – Forbidden Cannabis Club in Okanogan has an extra license to open a second store within the limits of an Okanogan County city only and wants to locate in Brewster. A store representative appeared at the regular meeting of the city council last Thursday, Feb. 16, to present the proposal.

The representative explained that there are already three cannabis stores in Omak and one in Tonasket, but none in the south county to serve customers from points south like Brewster, Bridgeport, Pateros, and Chelan. Forbidden had located an empty building near the corner of Bridge Street and Highway 97 that met the business requirement of not locating within 1,000 feet of a school, public park, or pool.

While revenues from the business are substantial the representative clarified that the bulk of those tax dollars go to the state and not to the city where the business operates.

Forbidden Cannabis owner Saranji Bassi appeared before the council in August 2019 with the initial request to open a Brewster store, but the council denied the proposal at that time.

Council member John Housden reminded the council of that earlier decision.

“The council reviewed this matter once before and rejected it,” said Housden. “What’s different now than it was then. Or is there anything?”

City attorney Chuck Zimmerman explained language in the city municipal code that compelled the city to reject a cannabis store the first time around.

“BMC 5.04.140 Sub Part C says the city clerk may deny an application for business license or refuse to license any business or activity upon a written finding that such business or activity proposed for licensing is not in compliance with any applicable city regulation, general law of the state of Washington, or provision of federal law,” quoted Zimmerman. “Possession of marijuana is against federal law.”

Zimmerman recalled that the city was on the cusp of receiving substantial federal money for infrastructure projects.

“Right now, we’re getting a lot of different funding from federal agencies,” Mayor Art Smyth said.

“And we’re still looking at another $12 to $20 million from the same departments,” added Finance Director Misty Ruiz who sources much the city’s grants and loans.

Housden said the city would be jeopardizing its federal funding “and we have a lot of that,” he said. “I personally don’t want to go there.”

Council members concurred until the question of any violation of federal funding is clearly resolved.