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Posts for Cannabis Regulation

Social Equity in Cannabis Program

Social Equity in Cannabis Program

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

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?

Cannabis Laws – What’s New?

February 8, 2019  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Cannabis Regulation ,  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

2018 General Election Part 3: Non-Revenue Edition

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

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

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

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

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

February 10, 2016  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Cannabis Regulation

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

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:  Cannabis Regulation

Cannabis Action Coalition v. City of Kent upheld the constitutionality of the city of Kent’s ordinance banning collective gardens as a valid exercise of the city’s zoning authority. But new legislation is replacing collective gardens with medical marijuana "cooperatives."

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

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

October 21, 2014  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Cannabis Regulation ,  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

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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Superior Court Decision on Fife Pot Ban

September 2, 2014  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Cannabis Regulation ,  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

On Friday, August 29th, the Pierce County Superior Court issued an oral ruling, after the attorneys made their arguments, that the City of Fife has the authority to ban all  marijuana businesses. In essence, the judge agreed with the basic analysis given by the Attorney General in AGO 2014 No. 2 in January.
Because the court ruled in the city's favor on this local option issue, there was no...

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Medical Marijuana and Drug Testing - What Employers Need To Know

March 1, 2012  by  Brian M. Flock and M. Edward Taylor
Category:  HR Advisor ,  Cannabis Regulation

The 2011 state Supreme Court decision in Roe v. TeleTech Customer Care Management (Colorado) LLC confirmed that the Medical Use of Marijuana Act does not protect medical marijuana users from adverse hiring or disciplinary decisions based on an employer's drug testing policy.

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