King County Council Chair: Council’s Vote Continues Inequitable Location Of Marijuana Facilities

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WASHINGTON:  Metropolitan King County Council Chair Joe McDermott, joined by Council member Larry Gossett, released this statement after the passage of legislation limiting the production, processing and retail of marijuana in the unincorporated areas of King County:

“The legislation will further concentrate retail marijuana stores in low income and working class neighborhoods, and, more often than not, minority neighborhoods.“Reducing the land area where marijuana can be grown and processed coupled with no guaranteed expansion of retail stores will also result in limited access across our county.

“This is particularly concerning for our residents who use medical marijuana to treat numerous ailments like seizures, arthritis and Crohn’s Disease.“For these reasons, we voted against the legislation.

“Moving forward, the County must look for ways to ensure adequate access to recreational and medical marijuana. We must also address any unintended consequences this legislation may create.

“King County residents voted for a workable, legal marijuana system. We must do the work to make this happen.”

Seattle Medical Marijuana Providers Want ‘Good Guy’ Status

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WASHINGTON:  In the medical marijuana business, Seattle has determined that there are good guys and bad guys.

Seattle and King County recently sent letters to all medical marijuana businesses, warning them they need to close. Seattle sent two kinds of letters: one to “good guys” who have a good shot at getting a state license, and another to “bad guys” who probably won’t.

King County took a harder line, telling all the dispensaries in unincorporated areas to close.

Illegal Pot Shops Need Rooting Out In Pierce County

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WASHINGTON:  Wonder of wonders: King County, epicenter of the state’s drug culture, has begun cracking down on illegal marijuana dispensaries.

Pierce County? It’s still doing next to nothing about them – even as it prohibits legal marijuana stores.

King County’s prosecutor, Dan Satterberg, and sheriff, John Urquhart, have put two and two together: Now that the state has more than 150 licensed marijuana retailers (with more on the way), it might just be time to start shuttering the hundreds of storefronts and delivery services that have been operating outside the law.

“The law is now clear,” said Satterberg earlier this month. “The only way to sell marijuana is with a state-issued license. It’s binary.”

 

Unlicensed Marijuana Businesses Will Soon Close In Unincorporated King County

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WASHINGTON:  King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and King County Sheriff John Urquhart announced today a King County effort aimed at closing down unlicensed marijuana businesses operating in unincorporated King County.

Fifteen such businesses operating in unincorporated King County were sent letters earlier in the week informing them that they do not have state-approved licenses for the sale of marijuana and must close down their establishments.

Initiative 502, which was approved by voters in 2012, requires the state to create a system for the licensed production, processing and retail distribution of marijuana with no requirement for medical need. Recent amendments to Initiative 502, adopted by the State Legislature, bring medical marijuana into the state licensing system and eliminate “collective gardens.” Retail operations licensed by the state offer the only legal way to sell marijuana, and any unlicensed sale of marijuana is illegal.

“These stores are illegal,” said King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg.  “They are unlicensed, untaxed, and they are undermining Washington State’s new law. How local jurisdictions deal with this issue may well determine the success of the entire law,” he added.

King County Blocks New Medical-Marijuana Shops

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WASHINGTON: The Metropolitan King County Council today approved a one-year moratorium on new medical-marijuana dispensaries and gardens in the unincorporated areas of the county.

In a unanimous vote, the council adopted the emergency legislation proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine.

The bill went through an expedited process and takes effect immediately. Constantine believed the normal process might have alerted entrepreneurs, according to a council staff analyst, who might then rush to open new facilities during the 10-day gap between when a bill is usually signed and when it takes effect.

The moratorium would not impact existing medical-marijuana facilities in unincorporated areas except that they would not be able to expand.

 

Washington State Approves 334 Retail Pot Stores; 61 in King County

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WASHINGTON: Revised state rules for a recreational marijuana system include the location of 334 retail pot stores, an overall cap on pot production and limits on concentrated ownership of pot stores, growing and processing facilities. [Read more…]

Washington State Approves 334 Retail Pot Stores; 61 in King County

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WASHINGTON: Revised state rules for a recreational marijuana system include the location of 334 retail pot stores, an overall cap on pot production and limits on concentrated ownership of pot stores, growing and processing facilities. [Read more…]