Washington Lawmakers Send Marijuana Reform Bill to Governor

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TJ Baker | April 25, 2017

OLYMPIA, WA — Lawmakers in Washington state have sent a comprehensive marijuana reform bill to the desk of Governor Jay Inslee (D), making several changes to the state’s cannabis regulation policies.

The bi-partisan Senate Bill 5131 was sponsored by Sens. Anna Rivers [R] Steven Conway [D], and received overwhelming support in both chambers of the legislature.

Among the notable changes made by SB 5131 is a provision that makes it legal for adults 21 or older to share up marijuana…

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Pacific Northwest marijuana investment network set to launch

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Cannabis-related companies in Alaska, Oregon and Washington seeking capital may find some investors through the Cannabis Investment Network, an organization launching this week that aims to connect marijuana firms with financial backers.

Cannabis Investment Network (CIN) is hoping to serve smaller-scale firms that are looking to raise from $500,000 to $3 million, according to a news release. The self-described “angel group” will function more as a conduit to connect investors with potential investments, instead of…

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White House’s words won’t deter rec marijuana states

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By John Schroyer

Despite ominous overtones from the White House, the eight states that have legalized recreational cannabis are proceeding full-bore, whether it’s with existing infrastructures or plans to establish new markets.

Governors and attorneys general responded in unison: They’ll honor voters’ wishes, and conduct business as usual while awaiting specific policies.

The cannabis industry’s future was called into question Thursday when President Donald Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, said “greater enforcement” could…

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Washington state’s MJ edibles labeling rules target child safety

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All edible marijuana products sold in Washington state must now carry a warning on the label notifying consumers they are “not for kids.”

The state requirement, which took effect Tuesday for marijuana-infused foods and soft drinks, consists of a red hand, the written warning and the Washington Poison Center’s telephone number, The News Tribune of Tacoma reported.


Spring 2017 MJBizConMarijuana processors are required to incorporate the label on new packaging or to affix a sticker to existing packaging to differentiate cannabis edibles from regular…

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Under legal pressure, Seattle MJ retailer changes name

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Facing a lawsuit from an Oregon tea company, a Seattle cannabis retailer has decided discretion is the better part of valor and announced it is changing its name to avoid legal entanglements.


Trump ReportThe company, formerly known as Stash Pot Shop, said in a news release Tuesday it was threatened with legal action by Portland-based Stash Tea Co. The tea company is protective of its trademarked name and has sued other marijuana-related businesses, including Oregon-based Stash Cannabis Company, according to the release.

The Seattle shop has changed its…

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Washington State Surpasses $1 Billion In Retail Marijuana Sales

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Washington State Surpasses $1 Billion In Retail Marijuana Sales

OLYMPIA, WA — Licensed retail facilities in Washington state have sold over $1 billion in marijuana flowers and cannabis-infused products since regulators began first permitting such sales two years ago.

Data compiled by the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board reports that legal sales have now yielded over $275 million in tax revenue.

Last month, state-licensed marijuana sales in Washington totaled $121 million – the highest monthly total yet reported by the Board.

In Colorado, retail sales of cannabis have totaled over $1.1 billion in…

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WA to Close New MJ Retail Licensing Round March 31

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Washington State’s new round of retail licensing will end with the month of March, the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board announced on Tuesday in a press release.

And it looks as though the state already has filled its quota, even though the licensing round is technically still open for a few more weeks.

“We are at the point where the number of highest priority applicants will exceed the number of available retail licenses,” LCB Licensing Division Director Becky Smith said in the…

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Washington Edibles Maker Expanding to Colorado

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For a while now, the trend has been that Colorado-based edibles companies have been expanding into other states. Now, a Washington State-based one is expanding into Colorado for a change.

Db3, which produces the Zoots line of edibles, announced this week that it has partnered with the Bronnor Corporation, which will be manufacturing and distributing Zoots products in Colorado beginning the week of March 7.

Initially, Zoots will be available at two medical and recreational cannabis retailers in…

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WA May Allow Limited Home MJ Delivery in Seattle

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A bill introduced at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia would allow a select few retailers to legally deliver recreational cannabis to customers.

As introduced earlier this month, the bill would create a pilot program and permit just five licensed rec shops to offer home delivery, according to KIRO 7 News. The bill would also establish requirements for employee training, delivery requirements and other regulations.

The bill, along with a recently announced crackdown on delivery services…

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WA Gives Seattle Dispensaries 14 Days to Get License

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A new policy decision announced in letters to Seattle medical cannabis dispensaries last week has some worried that they may have to uproot their businesses.

MMJ dispensaries in the city now have just days left to decide whether or not they’ll try for a license within the city limits, move elsewhere, or close up shop, according to KING News. The Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board reportedly decided that there are too few new licenses available for dispensaries in the city, and notified…

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Nearly 1,000 New Marijuana Retail Applicants in WA

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The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has so far received nearly 1,000 applications from businesses seeking a new cannabis retail license.

The official tally is 962 applications, according to the Olympian. And that’s only for storefronts that want to sell either medical or recreational cannabis (or both), and it doesn’t include companies that want to get into growing or manufacturing infused products.

Simultaneously, at least 118 recreational cannabis stores that already have…

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First Native American Cannabis Business Opens

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Another milestone in the cannabis industry came to pass last week when the first Native American marijuana shop opened in Washington State.

Elevation, a new recreational cannabis shop owned and operated by the Squaxin Island Tribe, opened on the tribe’s reservation, which is located roughly two hours southwest of Seattle and just north of the state capital, Olympia.

The shop opened after the tribe cemented a deal with the Washington State government. Under the agreement, the tribe will…

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Washington: Unlicensed King County Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Must Close

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SEATTLE, WA — Fifteen unlicensed medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated parts of King County are illegal and have one month to close, officials said Wednesday.

King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and King County Sheriff John Urquhart made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday.  The 15 affected dispensaries 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, they said.

The 15 dispensaries in White Center, Skyway and other unincorporated rural areas of King County are operating illegally under a recently passed law that requires medical marijuana dispensaries to follow the same rules and regulations that recreational pot shops must…

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Washington State Marijuana Legalization: One-Year Later

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New Report Finds Major Fiscal Benefits, Decrease in Violent Crime, No Increase in Youth Marijuana Use or Traffic Fatalities – And Massive Drop in Marijuana Arrests; Popular Support for Marijuana Legalization Remains Strong in Washington

As several states consider marijuana legalization initiatives, all eyes are on the initial outcomes of Washington’s marijuana law. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first two states to pass laws taxing and regulating marijuana.

Wednesday will mark the one-year anniversary of retail marijuana…

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Washington Earns $70 Million in Tax Revenue from Legal Marijuana Sales in First Year

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SEATTLE, WA — Washington launched its second-in-the-nation legal marijuana market with just a handful of stores selling high-priced pot to long lines of customers. A year later, the state has about 160 shops open, tax revenues have soared past expectations and sales top $1.4 million per day.

And who knows – the industry might even start making some money.

Washington pot farmers, processors and retailers have complained all year that heavy state and federal tax burdens, along with competition from an unregulated medical marijuana market,…

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Washington Passes Recreational Marijuana Reform Bill

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OLYMPIA, WA — Washington’s legislature on Saturday passed a measure that that makes several changes to the state’s recreational marijuana laws, ranging from revising the market’s tax structure to zoning rules.

One of the main changes to the current system would be the elimination of the three-tier tax structure and its replacement with a single excise tax of 37 percent at the point of sale.

House Bill 2136 passed the Senate on a bipartisan 36-7 vote and now heads to the governor’s desk. The House passed the measure Friday on a 59-38 vote.

An amendment that passed Friday in the House removed language from the original bill that would have required local bans on licensed marijuana businesses to be approved by the jurisdiction’s voters.

To encourage more cities and counties to…

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Washington House Passes Modest Marijuana Tax Reduction Bill

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OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington House on Friday passed a measure that makes several changes to the state’s new recreational marijuana market, including eliminating the three-tier tax structure and replacing it with a single excise tax of 37% at the point of sale.  The current three-tier tax structure adds up to an effective tax of 44%.

House Bill 2136 passed the House on a 59-38 vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration. An amendment that passed Friday removed language from the original bill that would have only allowed local bans on licensed marijuana businesses if approved by the jurisdiction’s voters.

To encourage more cities and counties to allow marijuana businesses, the bill directs the state to share pot revenue with jurisdictions that do so. It would also allow…

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Four Washington State Marijuana Stores Caught Selling to Minors

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Four of 22 stores tested for compliance were caught selling marijuana to underage shoppers

OLYMPIA, WA — Four recreational marijuana stores in Western Washington have failed compliance checks  by selling marijuana to minors.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB), working with investigative aides aged 18-20, checked 22 businesses for sales of marijuana to minors.  The minors are sent into bushiness selling age restricted products, and must either present their true identification, or none at, all if asked by a clerk.

In Washington, marijuana is available for purchase by those 21 or older at state licences retail stores.

This marks the first compliance checks since retail marijuana sales began in the state last year, and resulted in an 82% no-sales-to-minors compliance…

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