By Shakira Ericksen

The Des Moines City Council adopted a new ordinance that will allow businesses associated with recreational marijuana production to locate within specific zones of the city.

The ordinance was passed unanimously and with no discussion.

These businesses will be licensed by the State and would become a new source of tax revenue for Des Moines.

Marijuana licenses will not be issued if the proposed business is within 1,000 feet of any; elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care park, public park, public transit center, library or any game arcade where admission is not restricted to persons aged 21 or older.

The areas where recreational marijuana can be sold will be very limited. The stores would all be regulated and licensed by the State, very similar to a liquor store.

“The voters have spoken, the State has set the regulations, and what we want to do is make sure that we’re minimizing the impact on the surrounding communities, we obviously didn’t want it in residential neighborhoods,” said Mayor Dave Kaplan. “We are doing our best to comply with the will of the voters as well as public safety.”

Initiative 502 was passed by Washington voters last November providing a framework for marijuana producers, processors and retailers to become licensed in the State of Washington.

On November 18, the Liquor Control Board will begin accepting applications for recreational marijuana businesses. Licenses will begin to get issued on Dec 1, 2013.

More information can be found on the cities website http://www.desmoineswa.gov/