Renton City Council members are taking the only logical step about the legalization of marijuana – go ahead and sell it and smoke it.

Those actions must be within the limit of the new law governing recreational marijuana use, of course.

Really, the council doesn’t have a choice.

Voters last fall approved the statewide Initiative 502 approving private use of the “soft” drug. There’s no use fighting the will of the people, especially when that will is clear cut and the result of a vote.

Still clouding the issue statewide is the fact that federal law prohibits the possession of marijuana. But the council has taken an important policy step to deal with this newly legalized drug.

The city will treat marijuana just like that other legalized drug – alcohol. Properly licensed retailers can sell it, based on regulations the Washington State Liquor Control Board is developing. Those regulations also will govern cultivation of marijuana.

There’s no reason to reopen the debate about whether legalizing marijuana is in the public’s interest. There are tight controls – teens can’t smoke it legally and those who can can only possess specified small amounts or face arrest.

The City Council Monday night considered its options, such as a moratorium or controlling the location of sales through zoning. Those options were problematic.

Instead, the council took the sensible approach to give clear policy direction, based on the initiative and using alcohol regulation as a template, and then let staff, including City Attorney Larry Warren, work out the details.

The Police Department will continue to enforce the criminal aspects of marijuana use and the liquor board will ensure its regulations are followed by growers, distributors and sellers.

We would hope (maybe demand) that marijuana retailers use every precaution possible to ensure that pot isn’t shoplifted or sold to minors.

Marijuana is here to stay. The key is its sensible, and legal, use. It is a drug, after all, like alcohol and comes with similar dangers.