SOAP LAKE - Soap Lake City Council members voted Wednesday to extend the time it has to decide on establishing community medical marijuana gardens.

"This is an issue that's not just facing Soap Lake, but each community in the town and the state. And we're all struggling with the issue (from a compliance standpoint)," Soap Lake City Planner Darryl Piercy said.

The moratorium extension delays any city codes establishing community medical marijuana gardens. Unless further extended, it expires in six months.

Soap Lake joins Ephrata in extending the moratorium for a third time. The measures started in 2011 following the Legislature passing a bill allowing up to 10 qualifying patients to grow up to 45 plants in a shared garden.

Each patient can grow up to 15 plants.

Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed sections of the bill protecting officials from prosecution, Othello and Soap Lake City Attorney Katherine Kenison said in a previous Othello City Council meeting.

Piercy said Soap Lake's moratorium extension is particularly critical as Initiative 502 appears on November's ballot, which, if passed, would have major ramifications on how the state deals with pot.

The initiative allows marijuana to be legalized in small amounts and taxed for recreational use.

Add to the mix the fact that Washington and the federal government doesn't see eye to eye on medical marijuana regulation, Piercy said,

"If it were passed, it would have a huge impact on the regulations," he said. "But there would still be a need to address the issue of medical marijuana and collective gardens."

The state's current medical marijuana law is at odds with federal regulations. Piercy said it would be best to wait to see what the compliance fallout is before enacting any laws.

"We try to take this measured approach and be proactive instead of reactive," he said.

"This doesn't make a lot of sense that we're passing a law until the state proves itself," City Councilman John Glassco said. "There's a sunset clause in here, so could you keep passing this forever?"

Piercy explained that the council is passing an ordinance that provides for a moratorium while issues are studied, public hearings conducted, and appropriate regulations adopted.

"You will reach a point that, if you are demonstrating that you're achieving that goal, or attempting to achieve that goal, then you're more open to challenge," he said.

"You can take your chances and continue to adopt a moratorium every six months and we can continue to report that we're working on that issue," he continued. "But you can reach a point where that argument can get a little difficult to support."