The word on everyone’s mind at Monday’s city council meeting was marijuana.

The council engaged in a study session regarding potential cannabis changes within city limits, and residents showed up to voice disapproval.

City departments were looking for guidance on how to approach several controversial topics regarding marijuana co-ops in single-family residences, cannabis research and potential increased civil penalties for infractions.

The Cannabis Patient Protection Act, passed by leaders in Olympia last year, sparked the conversation. Whatever Bellevue decides to do with the aforementioned marijuana subjects, the law will go into full effect July 1.

The goal of that bill was meant to clarify what is meant by medical use of marijuana, to better regulate medical marijuana products, to allow for tax breaks for patients and to provide protection from arrest for those entered into the authorization database.

Bellevue councilmembers were guardedly in favor of several progressive drug policies if implemented responsibly, with the notable exception of the co-ops in residential homes.

Those co-ops would allow four patients to grow 60 plants in-home.

“We have seen homes that have been turned into nothing but grow operations,” said Deputy Mayor John Chelminiak. “Maybe that wouldn’t be the case with 60 plants, but my preference would be that we not allow these in the city.”

Councilmember Jennifer Robertson had problems not only with blurring commercial and residential zoning, but that these facilities tended to be less secure and less regulated.

“I’m reassured by the fact that you can still self grow for a qualifying patient to grow their own medicine, but for the larger scale, no,” she said.

There are three existing retail marijuana dispensaries and three licensed growing operations in the city. Recent proposals to put other marijuana establishments in Factoria and Eastgate are in the permitting process.

Councilmember Lynne Robinson wanted to be sure patients could get the medical marijuana they need, while Councilmembers Conrad Lee and Vandana Slatter wanted to maintain a consistency with past council decisions of not allowing co-operatives in residences.

Individuals are legally allowed to grow 15 plants for personal use if they are properly permitted.

The council was split regarding research in the city, as all research would have to be approved by the Life Sciences Discovery Fund and may partner with the University of Washington and Washington State University. Researchers could only sell to other researchers and could only grow in light-industrial areas in town.

Chelminiak changed his mind on the idea after hearing from citizens divided on potential dangers of marijuana and said it was important for consumers to know what “grade” of marijuana they were purchasing. Lee said he was in favor of research, but preferred it done by universities and institutions, not private entities.

Robertson was in favor of allowing research provided existing zoning requirements were maintained. Mayor John Stokes agreed.

The last policy issue the city looked at was considering adding civil penalties for illegally growing or processing medical marijuana in homes in addition to criminal penalties.

Much of the council didn’t see the need, citing existing enforcement and penalties.

Mike Brennan, director of development services, said the civil penalty would just be another tool to approach the issue, such as odor from a licensed grower.

“It might be more effective to work with a code enforcement officer than a police officer, depending on the issue,” said Catherine Drews, Bellevue legal planner.

Response from the public differed.

Julie Yu, a 5th grader at Somerset Elementary, gave comments about her opposition to marijuana stores in near places where children play in Bellevue’s neighborhoods.

“I do not want the influence of marijuana around me,” she said. “I do not want my sister, my brother or my friends to get accidentally poisoned by marijuana.”

According to city data, arrests for marijuana use in youths has actually decreased since legalization, and those getting cannabis under the age of 21 are buying from sources other than retail stores.

Alcohol remains the biggest drug problem in Bellevue schools, city leaders said.

Blaise Bouchand, owner of Maison de France — an interior design store in Bel-Red — was concerned about the impact of an adjacent marijuana retailer on his business.

“I have witnessed a cocaine transaction, I have witnessed crack consumption across the street,” he said. “So I would like to know why allowing stores like that, attracting the bad guys, the wrong kind of crowd. Bellevue is a city in the park, not a drug city.”

The departments took council advice into consideration and will return with items to take action on in June, said City Manager Brad Miyake.