Yakima County commissioners call advisory vote on allowing cannabis production and retail in unincorporated areas

The Yakima County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 on July 29, 2025, to adopt Resolution 180-20-25, calling an advisory election on whether to allow production, processing and retail sales of cannabis in specified zones of unincorporated Yakima County.

The advisory measure will ask voters whether the county should lift its current ban in unincorporated areas. The board’s majority moved to put the question to the electorate after discussion about potential tax revenue and previous voter outcomes.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the advisory vote would give direct guidance from residents and could unlock tax dollars for county programs if the ban is removed. Commissioner Curtis, who moved to second the motion, said the question was a matter of fiscal due diligence because “there are dollars that are being left on the table” and allowing a regulated industry could fund law enforcement and addiction services.

Debate and concerns: Commissioner Lindy opposed putting the question forward and warned about youth access and addiction. Lindy said the county had rejected similar measures twice in the past and cited data she described as showing a rise in cannabis use disorder among youth; she concluded, “I will not vote in favor of this.” Commissioner McKinney said she was willing to let voters decide but also urged a legislative approach to separate retail sales from production and processing to protect agricultural uses such as hemp.

Formal action: Commissioner McKinney moved to adopt Resolution 180-20-25. Commissioner Curtis seconded the motion. The motion passed with two votes in favor and one opposed. The board did not record a roll-call tally of individual votes in the transcript beyond the verbal aye/nay; commissioners speaking in the record make clear the outcome was 2–1 in favor of placing the advisory question on the ballot.

Next steps: The resolution calls for an advisory election; the transcript does not specify the ballot date or the exact ballot language. The transcript also notes prior denials of more than 60 business applications since 2014 in unincorporated Yakima County but does not specify whether any immediate county code changes will follow the advisory vote.

What the record does not show: The transcript does not include the final ballot wording, a timeline for the election, nor any enacted change to county code; it also does not document a public fiscal impact analysis or a detailed enforcement plan tied to lifting the ban. Any future policy or ordinance changes would require separate formal actions by the board.