Looking to buy more time while the tangled web of marijuana statutes is resolved, the city of Buckley is hoping to extend its moratorium on certain, specified growing and selling operations – and the public is again invited to participate in the discussion.

During their regularly-scheduled meeting of Oct. 8, members of the City Council will host a public hearing relating to the city’s ongoing rule against “medical marijuana collective gardens and medical marijuana dispensaries.”

The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Buckley Multipurpose Building on Main Street.

The ongoing moratorium will allow the city “additional time to adequately address constantly changing laws regarding the production, use and sale of marijuana,” according to legal advertising placed by the city.

Such a step is not uncommon in Washington, as cities and town across the state deal with the new reality of legalized marijuana, all in the wake of 2012’s Initiative 502. The measure legalized marijuana for recreational use while also calling for a system of taxation and regulation.

The state is now in dicey legal ground, with a voter-approved measure that flies in the face of federal law. If federal circles, cannabis remains an illegal Schedule I substance.

Putting marijuana on the back burner is nothing new. The Buckley council first passed Ordinance 06-12 in May 2012, establishing a six-month moratorium on “the establishment, location, operation, licensing, permitting, maintenance or continuation of medical marijuana collective gardens or medical marijuana dispensaries.” The moratorium has been extended twice – in October 2012 and April 2013 – each time for an additional six months.

Aside from the public hearing, the city also will take testimony in writing. Written comments should be submitted to City Administrator Dave Schmidt, P.O. Box 1960, Buckley, 98321; comments also can be submitted via email to: city@cityofbuckley.com. Comments are due to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7.