Not that long ago, Langley kept a medical marijuana shop from opening within city limits.

Since then, Washington voters passed an initiative to allow for the use and sales of recreational cannabis, and a new business has asked the Langley City Council whether it would allow a pot shop to operate. Mayor Fred McCarthy informed the council of the request, which had council members discussing the merits of allowing such a business when Coupeville and Oak Harbor are denying them.

“The problem is the restrictions on where they can go,” said Councilman Bruce Allen, one of the members who looked into the medical marijuana shop request.

Allen said such shops could not be within 1,000 feet of a school, church or park. In Langley, that leaves little to no retail space available which fits that criteria.

Councilman Doug Allderdice, who is on his way out of office after declining to seek re-election this fall, offered to look into the legality of allowing a recreational cannabis store in Langley. He planned to advise the council on a possible policy either allowing or denying the store.