Warden Council restricts drug paraphernalia, tackles parking codes

WARDEN - The Warden City Council passed an ordinance restricting where drug paraphernalia can be displayed within storefronts.

Council also began discussion on banning kratom and setting up parking zones and rules, asking for ordinances to be brought to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Paraphernalia

For the last couple of meetings, the council has been discussing issues with how drug paraphernalia is displayed within some stores. They had concerns about the accessibility of the items to minors, because the items are easily accessible.

"We don't want to restrict the sale of these items to legal adults," Council member Emily Campos said at a previous meeting. "We just don't want children to be able to access it."

The council wanted all paraphernalia to be inaccessible to minors but have no impact on businesses that sell the items. They decided to pass the ordinance, which says paraphernalia must be in a locked cabinet, kept behind the counter or kept away from minors in another way.

Businesses that fail to comply will receive a civil penalty each day they are not in compliance. A first-time violation in one year would be $533. A second violation in one year would be $1,045. Any further violations would be $2,000. The ordinance is effective 60 days from passage.

City Administrator Kriss Schuler said they will be giving a courtesy notification to businesses.

Kratom

Council asked for more information on kratom and 7-OH and are considering a full ban on both products.

According to a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration assessment, 7‑OH activates the same neurological pathway activated by morphine, fentanyl and oxycodone. Although naturally present in kratom leaves in trace amounts, the FDA reports that many products now sold in the U.S. contain "enhanced or concentrated" levels of 7‑OH, often produced synthetically. Products include candy, drinks, ice cream, vapes and pills, none of which are restricted by federal or state law.

Council asked for the fee schedule to be the same as the paraphernalia ordinance for non-compliance. They are set to review a draft ordinance at the next meeting.

The city of Othello is also considering a full ban on both products and is expected to have further discussion at their next meeting. Kratom was also brought up at the March 24 Moses Lake City Council by Green Seed owner Amy Dalluge, but no further action has been taken.

Parking zones

Council asked for an ordinance to be brought back limiting parking time in busy areas of town, including downtown. This is to help with vehicles that are both abandoned in parking spaces and to help make sure parking is accessible to businesses downtown.

City Attorney Anna Franz said the city doesn't have any ticketable parking offenses, including when they have events downtown and restrict parking.

"If the director of public works puts out signs that you are having a parade in town and there is no parking on a certain street, there are no enforcement steps that can be taken," Franz said. "You don't have a ticketable offense for that."

Council member Agapito Gonzalez said he thinks this is long overdue.

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