WASHINGTON: Washington State has set rules for retail production and sale of marijuana. The State Liquor Control Board sealed the deal in less than an hour, unanimously approving regulations covering production, processing and retailing. Land is allocated, 40 metric tons of production is allowed annually, and even marijuana-infused products are monitored in solid, extract and liquid form. See Washington State Sets Pot-Sales Rules.
Sounds pretty organized compared with our nation’s capital. Not every government is gridlocked and unable to inch toward progress. It was only last November in Initiative 502 that Washington voters legalized the possession, consumption and purchase of marijuana. Although Internet sales and home delivery are verboten, 334 retailers are to open next year.
The new regulations spell out many details. For one, the time to apply for a license in retailing, growing or processing will be open for 30 days starting Nov. 18. And while some will complain, it seems deftly handled for now, especially when contrasted with so much at the federal level. It’s been only a year since voters in Colorado and Washington voted to legalize marijuana.
For much longer than that, we have had legalized medical marijuana. The tally is now 20 legal medical marijuana states and D.C. Yet in the Feds’ view, regardless of state legality, marijuana is a controlled substance and illegal under federal law. Recently, though, the Department of Justice issued a response suggesting that it will lay off the raids and prosecutions.
But the feds will lay off only if the states create “a tightly regulated market” with rules that address federal “enforcement priorities” such as preventing interstate smuggling, diversion to minors, and “adverse public health consequences.” Those phrases seem imbued with discretion. This memo to U.S. attorneys makes clear that the DOJ can still prosecute growers and sellers.
On top of this, the tax problems of the industry are one of the major impediments facing the industry. And the main culprit is Congress, not the IRS. Section 280E of the tax code denies even legal dispensaries tax deductions. In the past the IRS has said it has no choice but to enforce the tax code passed by Congress. “The federal tax situation is the biggest threat to businesses and could push the entire industry underground,” a leading trade publication for the marijuana industry reported.