Pasco City Council’s recent decision to approve an application for a fifth cannabis retailer within city limits and initiate the code amendment process to allow it was followed by applause – but it wasn’t a celebratory moment for everyone.

The council agreed on a 4-3 split to inform state regulators that they approve of Compass LLC as an applicant for one of the state’s social equity cannabis retail licenses. Council members also agreed to Compass’s proposed location at 5804 Road 90, where cannabis retailer Green2Go was before relocating to Road 68 earlier this year.

But that vote followed plenty of public comment with city residents and others from outside the city speaking strongly against or for the new retailer and code changes.

Council members also traded comments among themselves, with the minority voicing opposition to cannabis in general for its potential negative health effects.

“I think at the heart of this, what’s really bringing us here, is that they’re selling something addictive that is causing mental illness,” said Councilman Joe Cotta.

The majority supporting the changes, however, said the council needed to consider Compass’s business on its merits rather than personal beliefs.

“Are we going to punish them after they’ve done all the work just because its cannabis? I don’t think that’s fair,” said Councilman Calixto Hernandez.

Pasco approved cannabis retailers in 2023, allowing up to four retail locations to operate within the city. Currently Green2Go and Pacific Outpost each operate one store within city limits while Spokane-based Lucky Leaf Co. operates two.

The council first discussed changing city code relating to cannabis retailers in late July. A majority approved charging staff with drafting an amendment raising the current cap to five retail locations and to establish a metric of adding one license for every additional 30,000 people added to the city population.

That conversation was initiated by Compass’s formal notice to the city that owner Zachary Fairley was pursuing a cannabis retail license via the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board’s social equity program.

The council minority were joined by a slew of individuals from within and outside the city speaking against approving Compass’s application and allowing more retailers. They voiced concerns about more children getting access to cannabis as a result, the reported prevalence of marijuana substance abuse in areas near such retailers, and the city’s past commitment to not expand without public input.

“I’m here because four stores was the deal and four stores is working,” one resident told the council.

Fairley and others associated with Compass also addressed the council.

Fairley said they went door-to-door in the neighborhood near the proposed store’s location and received mostly positive feedback along with some comments on how the store can be a good neighbor, such as cleaning up outside the shop each day or making sure there’s adequate security.

“What matters is that we listened and took notes,” he said.

The council majority lauded Fairley and his partners for their outreach and working with city staff to move forward. They said the proposed changes provide a predictable means for the city to address the likelihood of future cannabis retailer applications.

“It’s about responsible planning and responsible growth and that’s what we were elected for,” said Councilman Mark Figueroa. “This is not expansion without limits, this is expansion with discipline.”

Changing the city’s code regarding cannabis retailers will require a public hearing. City staff told council that hearing would likely come sometime in September.