Last week, I wrote about how the new medical marijuana system created under the Cannabis Patient Protection Act (SB 5052) shut out many of Washington State's medical marijuana dispensaries. The law required that dispensaries obtain a recreational license to continue operation, but a loophole in the application process created a black market for dispensary employee pay stubs, allowing new actors to game the system. I also mentioned that the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) blindsided applicants by announcing a cap of 222 new licenses late in the application process. [continues 901 words]
A Loophole in the Recreational License Application Process Created a Black Market for Dispensary Employee Pay Stubs and Left Longtime Dispensary Operators in the Dust A loophole allowed applicants with no background in medical marijuana to be treated as if they were law-abiding, taxpaying veterans of the industry. On July 1, when the Cannabis Patient Protection Act (SB 5052) took effect, all dispensaries without an I-502 license were forced to shut down, sending many of the state's medical marijuana patients into a panic. Patients worry that the recreational market doesn't have enough medicinal cannabis for their needs and that what is available is not affordable. Many point to the fact that the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) issued only 222 new retail licenses to replace more than 1,500 medical marijuana dispensaries. [continues 820 words]
On July 1, Washington State's medical marijuana market disappeared. Here's why the most needy patients will likely suffer. On July 1, Washington State's medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives officially closed, leaving only state-licensed recreational stores to serve patients. This is a result of the Cannabis Patient Protection Act (SB 5052), which is perhaps the most egregious bit of doublespeak ever. The law does not protect patients. In fact, evidence suggests that it will put the state's most vulnerable patients at risk. [continues 1398 words]
Plus, the WSLCB Finally Sets Rules for Acceptable Pesticide Levels Senator Michael Baumgartner (R-Spokane) recently added another bill to his already impressive list of idiotic, regressive policy ideas: allowing cities to ban pot businesses in places based on preexisting alcohol impact areas (AIA). The AIA program, for those who missed that dark chapter of our state's history, was cooked up in 1999 as a way to fight chronic street inebriation. Administered by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB), it bans the sale of certain types of booze that are especially popular with chronic street drunks. [continues 904 words]
And Other Marijuana News Don't Expect to See Legal Pot Delivered to Your Doorstep Anytime Soon The bill from Representative Chris Hurst (D-Enumclaw) that would have set up a pilot program allowing for delivery service by state-licensed cannabis retailers failed to meet the house's February 26 voting cutoff on policy bills. According to Hurst, it wasn't popular with certain parts of Seattle's pot industry, which didn't trust the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board to implement it fairly. Despite these woes, Hurst told me, the bill could still make it, as it has a fiscal component and could be voted on as part of the budget process. [continues 767 words]
