Taking their cues from big tobacco and alcohol, marijuana organizations are hiring staff to lobby the Liquor Control Board as they develop our state's commercial marijuana system.
From the Washington State Wire:
Veteran lobbyists . . .will
represent one of perhaps four separate groups lining up to impact the regulatory
process of the Washington State Liquor Control Board as it develops the state’s,
and the nation’s first recreational cannabis users’ retail business platform.
. . . The two lobbyists will register on behalf what appears to be the first state
association or coalition of the state’s larger, more business savvy medical
marijuana producers. Hilary Bricken said the two will register with the PDC to
“monitor and provide input on any legislation or regulation pertaining to the
production, processing, wholesaling and retailing of cannabis.”
“We’ve (also) started a trade organization called The Cannabis Business Group
that plans to advocate for itself and its interests in Olympia with our
lobbyists,” Bricken added in an email.
Is anyone hiring lobbyists for youth substance abuse prevention?
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Liquor Control Board starts marijuana rulemaking process & seeks public input
Yesterday, the Liquor Control Board released a fact sheet about the implementation of I-502. Earlier this week, they announced that they have begun rulemaking regarding marijuana producers and are seeking public input.
Here's their announcement:
Marijuana Producer Rulemaking Underway
December 5, 2012
Today the Washington State Liquor Control Board filed a CR-101 (pre-proposal filing) to enter into the initial stage of rule-making on the “marijuana producer” license created by Initiative 502.
Marijuana Producer Only
This rule making is for the “marijuana producer” license only. During this stage of the rule-making process the Board is seeking public comment and input on how the public thinks the license should work and what type of regulations should come with it.
Board staff will review the written input as it formulates draft rules. Once the draft rule is prepared, the Board will again seek comment on draft producer rules (CR 102), including at least one public hearing. It is likely that the Board will hold public hearings on the west and east sides of Washington State. Dates and times for those meetings will be posted on the LCB website as soon as they become available. Notices will also be sent via the I-502 Listserv maintained by the Liquor Control Board.
Tentative Timeline
Note: The below timeline is tentative. We will use the I-502 Listserv and website for notifications and updates as they are available. You can also follow us on twitter (WSLCB).
Please forward your initial comments to the Liquor Control Board by mail, e-mail, or fax by Feb. 10, 2013
By mail:
Rules Coordinator
Liquor Control Board
P.O. Box 43080
Olympia, WA 98504-3080
By e-mail: rules@liq.wa.gov
By fax: 360-664-9689
Processor and Retailer Rulemaking
Similar CRs will be filed at a later date for the proposed “processor” and “retailer” licenses created by I-502.
Here's their announcement:
Marijuana Producer Rulemaking Underway
December 5, 2012
Today the Washington State Liquor Control Board filed a CR-101 (pre-proposal filing) to enter into the initial stage of rule-making on the “marijuana producer” license created by Initiative 502.
Marijuana Producer Only
This rule making is for the “marijuana producer” license only. During this stage of the rule-making process the Board is seeking public comment and input on how the public thinks the license should work and what type of regulations should come with it.
Board staff will review the written input as it formulates draft rules. Once the draft rule is prepared, the Board will again seek comment on draft producer rules (CR 102), including at least one public hearing. It is likely that the Board will hold public hearings on the west and east sides of Washington State. Dates and times for those meetings will be posted on the LCB website as soon as they become available. Notices will also be sent via the I-502 Listserv maintained by the Liquor Control Board.
Tentative Timeline
Note: The below timeline is tentative. We will use the I-502 Listserv and website for notifications and updates as they are available. You can also follow us on twitter (WSLCB).
- December 5, 2012
Board files CR 101 to initiate marijuana producer rulemaking
- February 10, 2013
Last day for Board to accept initial public input
- March 6, 2013
Board files CR 102 that includes a draft marijuana producer rule
- April 10, 2013
1 of 2 public hearings. The second’s hearing is still to be determined.
- April 17, 2013
Board adopts marijuana producer rules
- May 18, 2013
Marijuana rules become effective.
Please forward your initial comments to the Liquor Control Board by mail, e-mail, or fax by Feb. 10, 2013
By mail:
Rules Coordinator
Liquor Control Board
P.O. Box 43080
Olympia, WA 98504-3080
By e-mail: rules@liq.wa.gov
By fax: 360-664-9689
Processor and Retailer Rulemaking
Similar CRs will be filed at a later date for the proposed “processor” and “retailer” licenses created by I-502.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Legal adult marijuana use, restrictions included
Tomorrow, part of Initiative 502 goes into affect. Possession of small amounts of marijuana and marijuana-infused foods/beverages will no longer be illegal in Washington. However, restrictions on use come hand-in-hand with this new legal status.
From the Seattle Weekly Blog:
. . . But the clearest prohibition may be located in the state's food code, which bars commercial food producers from using any ingredients which aren't approved for human consumption, such as marijuana. "It doesn't appear that's going to change," Moyer says. Although the rules committee could recommend adjusting the code, it might be difficult to square those changes with food safety concerns: Since marijuana remains illegal under federal law, there are no plans for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to inspect or approve marijuana-infused products.
From the Seattle Weekly Blog:
Although it becomes legal this week to possess one pound of "marijuana-infused product" or 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquid, officials say Initiative-502 doesn't open the door for restaurants to plate up pot.
. . . But the clearest prohibition may be located in the state's food code, which bars commercial food producers from using any ingredients which aren't approved for human consumption, such as marijuana. "It doesn't appear that's going to change," Moyer says. Although the rules committee could recommend adjusting the code, it might be difficult to square those changes with food safety concerns: Since marijuana remains illegal under federal law, there are no plans for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to inspect or approve marijuana-infused products.
"Marijuana in food products is not legal," Moyer emphasizes. "That includes what's already being sold in 'dispensaries,' which of course, aren't legal."
From FOX 12 in Oregon:
. . . Flatt (a marijuana user) planned to rent out a space at the Clark County Convention Center on New Year's Eve and then invite (marijuana) smokers and supporters to attend.
But the county health department soon put a stop to Flatt's pot party. County health officials said the party would be against the law and the convention center denied his application.
Justin Kobluk, a spokesman for the Clark County Events Center, said the events center must abide by Measure 901, passed in 2005, which says "no person may smoke in a public place or in any place of employment."
"The issue wasn't the cannabis or the substance at all," Kobluk said. "The issue was it is just not legal to smoke in a public place," he said.
But the county health department soon put a stop to Flatt's pot party. County health officials said the party would be against the law and the convention center denied his application.
Justin Kobluk, a spokesman for the Clark County Events Center, said the events center must abide by Measure 901, passed in 2005, which says "no person may smoke in a public place or in any place of employment."
"The issue wasn't the cannabis or the substance at all," Kobluk said. "The issue was it is just not legal to smoke in a public place," he said.
From the Bellingham Herald:
. . . In a Monday, Dec. 3, committee vote, the City Council approved ordinance amendments bringing Bellingham's municipal code into conformance with state law as changed by voters via Initiative 502.
The initiative allows people 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, with similar legal limits on various kinds of "marijuana-infused products." But the initiative also treats pot the way that current law treats alcohol: Using it in public, or even having an open container, subjects the offender to a "civil infraction," which amounts to a ticket and a small fine, but not arrest or jail.
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