Robert Celt
New Member
During a Jan. 4 Battle Ground City Council meeting, council members voted unanimously to limit the number of marijuana retail stores in the city to one.
Since October 2015, a moratorium has been in place on the issuance of business licenses and building permit applications for cannabis retail establishments. This emergency moratorium was put in place to give the city time to address the changes made to the state marijuana regulations and update city ordinances as needed.
In November the moratorium was extended for six months to continue working on code updates in regards to cannabis development standards.
Two different recent state bills have introduced some changes to the recreational marijuana retail rules.
According to the staff report given to city council members, House Bill 2136 is a "comprehensive marijuana market reform to ensure a well-regulated and taxed marijuana market in Washington state."
Some of the highlights of the bill include:
- Establishes a sales tax exemption for qualifying medical marijuana patients, which is an exemption for the state and local sales tax, but does not include an exemption from the marijuana excise tax.
- Restructures the marijuana excise tax that collapses the tax into one 37 percent tax collected at the final retail sale of marijuana products.
- Allows for local flexibility to reduce the current 1,000-foot buffer. Cities can adopt a buffer of between 1,000 and 100 feet from certain uses. The 1,000-foot buffer is still required for schools and playgrounds.
- Allows the Liquor Control Board to contact with local law enforcement for activities to eradicate illegal marijuana production.
- Clarifies the "public place" in provisions that prohibit the consumption of marijuana in a public place.
- Modifies marijuana retailer signage requirements.
- Allows a marijuana business to use a common carrier to transport marijuana if the carrier is licensed by the Liquor Control Board.
In addition to House Bill 2136, Senate Bill 5052, the Cannabis Patient Protection Act, seeks to clarify and and reconcile Washington state's medical and recreational marijuana laws. Some of the highlights of this bill include:
- Establishes the Liquor Control Board as the agency to oversee both recreational and medical marijuana and changes the name to Liquor and Cannabis Board.
- Creates a medical marijuana endorsement to be made available to a marijuana retail licensee.
- Regulates medical use of marijuana through the same structure as established by Initiative 502.
- Clarifies what medical conditions qualify for medical use marijuana.
- Eliminates collective gardens and replaces them with cooperatives, which may only have four qualifying patients or designated providers and must be registered with the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
- Allows for minors to use medical marijuana if the minor's parent or guardian, and health professional, authorize the minor to do so. Minors may not grow or purchase marijuana, only their parent or guardian who has been determined to be their designated provider may do so.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Washington: BG Will Limit Marijuana Retail Stores To One
Author: Joanna Michaud
Contact: The Reflector
Photo Credit: via The News Tribune
Website: The Reflector
Since October 2015, a moratorium has been in place on the issuance of business licenses and building permit applications for cannabis retail establishments. This emergency moratorium was put in place to give the city time to address the changes made to the state marijuana regulations and update city ordinances as needed.
In November the moratorium was extended for six months to continue working on code updates in regards to cannabis development standards.
Two different recent state bills have introduced some changes to the recreational marijuana retail rules.
According to the staff report given to city council members, House Bill 2136 is a "comprehensive marijuana market reform to ensure a well-regulated and taxed marijuana market in Washington state."
Some of the highlights of the bill include:
- Establishes a sales tax exemption for qualifying medical marijuana patients, which is an exemption for the state and local sales tax, but does not include an exemption from the marijuana excise tax.
- Restructures the marijuana excise tax that collapses the tax into one 37 percent tax collected at the final retail sale of marijuana products.
- Allows for local flexibility to reduce the current 1,000-foot buffer. Cities can adopt a buffer of between 1,000 and 100 feet from certain uses. The 1,000-foot buffer is still required for schools and playgrounds.
- Allows the Liquor Control Board to contact with local law enforcement for activities to eradicate illegal marijuana production.
- Clarifies the "public place" in provisions that prohibit the consumption of marijuana in a public place.
- Modifies marijuana retailer signage requirements.
- Allows a marijuana business to use a common carrier to transport marijuana if the carrier is licensed by the Liquor Control Board.
In addition to House Bill 2136, Senate Bill 5052, the Cannabis Patient Protection Act, seeks to clarify and and reconcile Washington state's medical and recreational marijuana laws. Some of the highlights of this bill include:
- Establishes the Liquor Control Board as the agency to oversee both recreational and medical marijuana and changes the name to Liquor and Cannabis Board.
- Creates a medical marijuana endorsement to be made available to a marijuana retail licensee.
- Regulates medical use of marijuana through the same structure as established by Initiative 502.
- Clarifies what medical conditions qualify for medical use marijuana.
- Eliminates collective gardens and replaces them with cooperatives, which may only have four qualifying patients or designated providers and must be registered with the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
- Allows for minors to use medical marijuana if the minor's parent or guardian, and health professional, authorize the minor to do so. Minors may not grow or purchase marijuana, only their parent or guardian who has been determined to be their designated provider may do so.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Washington: BG Will Limit Marijuana Retail Stores To One
Author: Joanna Michaud
Contact: The Reflector
Photo Credit: via The News Tribune
Website: The Reflector
