Politics & Government

State Regulators Recommend New Pot Rules

The Washington State Liquor Control Board says it is working on a number of revised proposals, including a cap on total marijuana production and the number and location of retail outlets in each county.

Hold on to your lighters.

With less than four months to go until the implementation deadline for I-502, the Washington Liquor Control Board (WLCB) announced Tuesday its staff is recommending a revised set of pot rules that would require an additional six-week public comment period.

Do you think the current set of rules is adequate? Or are the proposed revisions necessary? Tell us in the comments section.

The board was originally scheduled to approve a final list of rules at its Wednesday meeting but issued a news release Tuesday saying that input gathered from public hearings last week was sufficient for WLCB staff to re-file a revised set of rules.

If the board goes through with the staff's recommendation, an additional six-week public comment period would follow, pushing final adoption of the new rules to Oct. 16. The laws would become effective on Nov. 16, and the state would issue licenses from Nov. 18 to Dec. 18.

Officials say the revised schedule would still comply with I-502's implementation deadline of Dec. 1, although The Seattle Times reports the retail licensing process would be pushed back by about two months.

Among the proposed new rules, officials are considering putting limits on the overall amount of marijuana production, identifying the number and location of retail outlets in each county, and limiting the total amount of pot a license holder can have on hand at any given point.

“The process is working exactly as it should,” WSLCB director Rick Garza said in the news release. “Potential licensees, local governments, law enforcement and the general public all deserve clarity and certainty in the rules. Our stakeholders are not telling us to hurry up. In fact, they are asking us to consider their comments for the proposed rules. Their input now will only help strengthen and improve the rules that will govern Washington’s system of legal marijuana.”

The board will hear staff's recommendations at its Wednesday meeting, set for 10 a.m. in Olympia. For more information on marijuana legalization in Washington, visit the WSLCB's web pages.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Redmond