Whatcom County now allows a cannabis store in one Guide Meridian industrial area
What happened: The County Council changed its zoning rules Oct. 27 to allow a cannabis store in one industrial area on the Guide Meridian, the draft minutes record.
The area is part of the land next to Bellingham set aside for future city growth.
The old rule only allowed a store run together with a cannabis grower or processor.
State rules do not let those businesses be combined with a store, so no one could apply, County staff said.
Staff said the site was picked because it sits near existing cannabis stores just south of it in Bellingham, and away from schools and parks.
The County Action Summary records the vote as 6 to 1.
See where this stands: Retail cannabis on Guide Meridian light industrial land.
What's next: the change is adopted; any store still needs a state license and County permits.