Commissioners take flak, but extend pot moratorium

Following a contentious public hearing, Whitman County commissioners voted Tuesday to extend the county marijuana moratorium for six more months.

The vote was unanimous. Commissioners Art Swannack, Michael Largent and Dean Kinzer previously stated their intention to extend the moratorium to allow time for the county planning commission to finish work on a proposed ordinance to regulate marijuana operations in the county.

The hearing started with Public Works Director Mark Storey, who oversees the planning department, briefing commissioners.

"We have a nice draft (of the ordinance), some new la...