Social Equity in Cannabis Program

December 7, 2020  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Marijuana ,  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Inclusive Communities

This blog post offers an overview of E2SHB 2870, 2020 legislation creating a social equity in cannabis program for Washington State.

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Cannabis Laws – What’s New?

February 8, 2019  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Marijuana ,  New Legislation and Regulations

This blog post offers 10 things to know about what's new with the cannabis industry from the perspective of local, state, and federal government. 

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2018 General Election Part 3: Non-Revenue Edition

November 13, 2018  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Elections ,  Forms of Government-City ,  Annexation ,  Marijuana ,  Forms of Government-County

In this blog post, we examine non-revenue local ballot measures, including city and county charter changes, a city adopting the council-manager form of government, fire district annexations and mergers, and advisory votes on marijuana and downtown plazas and stadiums.

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Ballot Measures Part 2: Forms of Government, Marijuana Bans, and Non-Revenue Measures

November 13, 2017  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Elections ,  Forms of Government-City ,  Marijuana

Senior Communications Coordinator Steve Hawley recaps some of the non-revenue ballot measures in the general election, including Shelton abandoning its commission form of government, Port Angeles retaining its code city classification, and voters expressing support for existing marijuana bans.

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Recreational and Medical Marijuana Systems Merge on July 1!

June 3, 2016  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

July 1 will mark a major shift in the state’s development of a regulated marijuana market. On that date, there will no longer be both a strictly regulated recreational marijuana system and an almost totally unregulated medical marijuana system. Instead, the two systems will merge into one fairly coherent and consistent system under the jurisdiction of the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). So, effective July 1, any and all marijuana sales throughout the state that do not take place through state-licensed retail stores will be clearly illegal.

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Zoning for Marijuana – What Are Jurisdictions Doing and How Is It Working?

February 10, 2016  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

Cities and counties have the authority to zone for licensed marijuana businesses as they deem appropriate, subject to the 1,000-foot buffer zones around certain uses established in RCW 69.50.331(8)(a), which cities and counties now may reduce in size, except for those around schools and parks. See RCW 69.50.331(8)(b). They may even prohibit such businesses entirely, at least according to the attorney general’s office and the five superior courts that have so far addressed the issue. So, how have cities and counties approached their authority to zone for this new land use?

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State-Licensed Marijuana Industry Morphing and Growing

December 23, 2015  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

As the transition of the state-licensed marijuana industry continues, the LCB recently issued a recommendation for a substantial increase in the number of retail stores throughout much of the state.

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Final Marijuana Legislation for 2015

July 2, 2015  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

On June 30, Governor Inslee signed 2E2SHB 2136 -- another significant piece of legislation amending the state’s marijuana regulatory system. The legislation is 61 pages long and contains provisions that are important for local governments, for individuals operating licensed marijuana businesses, and for medical marijuana users.

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State Supreme Court Says Cities Can Ban Collective Gardens, but the Legislature is Replacing Them with Medical Marijuana Cooperatives

May 21, 2015  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Marijuana

The Washington State Supreme Court today issued a decision (Cannabis Action Coalition v. City of Kent) upholding the constitutionality of the city of Kent’s ordinance banning collective gardens as a valid exercise of the city’s zoning authority. But, in a related development, the Washington State Legislature . . .

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Medical Marijuana Reform Legislation Enacted

May 14, 2015  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

Here’s a toast to the Washington State Legislature! On Friday, April 24, Governor Jay Inslee approved, with several section vetoes, Second Substitute Senate Bill 5052 (2SSB 5052), which significantly revamps the entire medical marijuana structure in Washington.

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Second Superior Court Ruling Upholds City Pot Ban, and Other Pot News

October 22, 2014  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Marijuana

A Chelan County judge upheld Wenatchee’s moratorium on the issuance of permits for marijuana production and sales and its provision that business licenses may not be issued for activities that are unlawful under federal law.

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State Attorney General Says Cities and Counties Can Ban Recreational Marijuana Uses

January 16, 2014  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

On January 16th, the state Attorney General's Office issued a formal opinion concluding that Initiative 502 does not preempt counties, cities, and towns from banning recreational marijuana businesses -  producers, processors,...

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Local and State Permits Required for Licensed Marijuana Businesses

December 12, 2013  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

The state Liquor Control Board is doing its best to inform prospective marijuana business applicants of the types of permits that they will need in order to comply with both local and state laws and regulations. Three "fact sheets" - one for outdoor marijuana producers, one for indoor marijuana producers, and one for marijuana processors -...

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Marijuana - No Federal Roadblocks

August 29, 2013  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

On August 29th, the Obama administration, through Attorney General Eric Holder, made it clear that the federal government will not interfere with marijuana regulation in Washington and Colorado if it meets federal concerns over youth access,...

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Marijuana Producers, Processors, and Retailers - Where Will They Be Setting Up Shop?

March 5, 2013  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Marijuana

It’s been almost four months since Washington voters passed Initiative 502 and directed our state to take a “new approach” to adult marijuana use: regulate and tax instead of prohibit. Are you, and your community, still in shock? Have some residents been telling you that they “certainly don’t want any such businesses locating anywhere in _____!!” – while at the same time potential marijuana...

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