Legal Marijuana Update
by Smoking Js Sean W.
After squeezing through the
midsummer madness at your local super market you almost have everything you
need to try making your very first batch of cannabis cookies. Flour, eggs, sugar—Check. Chocolate chips and vanilla extract—Double
check. Looking into the cart you know
something is missing…something important.
Although you’ll have no luck finding it next to the herbs in the produce
section, it was legalized eight months ago…so where’s the weed?
Last November, when the citizens of
Colorado voted to legalize marijuana the Colorado Legislature was charged with
writing the laws for regulation. Voters
here in Washington state approved a similar bill, but the responsibility for
establishing and regulating the new industry was left in the hands of the
Liquor Control Board. In mid-May, the
Washington LCB issued a first draft of proposed laws for regulating the legal
production, processing, and retail of Marijuana here in Washington state. Some critics complain of how long everything
is taking. However, we have to remember
that the LCB is in completely uncharted territory. There are no other examples to follow. The board says it is committed to tracking
each plant that hits retail, “from seed to sale.” What this means is that all marijuana
intended for retail stores will be accounted for—from first sprouting until it
is properly packaged and showcased on store shelves. The LCB released a second draft of updated
rules in early July. This version will
likely be finalized in coming weeks and will lay the guidelines governing the
new recreational pot industry.
Producers (Growers), processing facilities ,
and retail locations will all be required
to maintain 24-hour surveillance of their facilities. Producers will use their green thumbs to
enter daily counts for the weight of all plants grown, even crops that are defunct and that will never
see store shelves. The May draft of the
laws originally prohibited growing marijuana outdoors. This was the largest criticism made by
potential growers. After feedback and
further consideration, the LCB decided to allow outdoor grows. Provided the locations still meet the high
security standards. A chain link fence
does a pretty good job of saying “Authorized Employees Only.” Growers are going to be encouraged to go for
organic. There will be restrictions on what chemicals may be used on parts of
the plant intended for consumption.
Overall the goal is to keep the marijuana as healthy and as safe as
possible. If it’s super kind bud that
just so happens to be organic, who’s complaining?
Processors will be responsible for fine-tuning
the new Marijuana crops before they are shipped to stores. It may sound a little like working in Willy
Wonka’s chocolate factory, mixing, matching, infusing new strains into new
recipes until some delicious treat sits before you, ready to take you around
the world and back. Although processors
might have expanded creative freedoms, their duties to the public are great. Processors will be responsible for the proper
labeling of all marijuana products. The
Liquor Control Board issued a sample of how future packaging will most likely
look:
The label
will inform consumers of the THC/CBD percentages of the plant or infused
product they purchase, net weight, and the name of the strain. If it is a baked good or infused product the
label will specify the total THC contained.
The LCB defines an infused product serving size as 10mg of THC. Ten servings or 100mg will be the maximum any
single package may contain. And of course
all packaging will display the cautionary disclaimer: Warning-may be habit
forming.
Retail locations, where recreational users
will go for their one-stop-pot needs, will not be popping up on every
corner. In fact, finding a suitable
location for your Retail store may require some extensive research. Retail stores will not be allowed to operate
within 1000ft from schools, parks, day cares, libraries and public transfer
service stations. Under LCB definition any covered bus stop counts as
a transit station which disqualifies many high traffic areas from being
eligible locations. One Seattle law
group that worked with the Washington Cannabis Association took the opportunity
to suggest improvements to the first-draft laws. They proposed redefining some of the language
used in the laws: a bus stop would not fall under “Public transit station” and
“Arcade” would have a narrower definition so potential Retail operators aren’t
banished to remote locations, “five miles out of town, pass the old barn, third
shop on the right.” The actual number of
retail locations will be based on a region’s population and demand. If a region receives more applications than
allotted licenses a lottery decides who will get the license.
So it’s April and it’s the grand opening of a new marijuana retailer
in your area. If you are twenty-one or
older you’ll be invited to come in and stock up on some kind bud. Maybe some cannabis infused butter for the
morning bagel and some cosmic brownies for dessert. Each infused product informatively displays
THC content and any food ingredients used.
After selecting a pack of pre-rolled joints you kindly ask the
salesperson, “and what varieties do you have for oils?” The earlier drafted laws prohibited marijuana
concentrates such as hash or oils. Hits
of highly potent THC oils, more commonly known as ‘Dabs’, continue to grow in
popularity; especially amongst fresh generations of smokers. Luckily for all of these enthusiasts, the LCB
decided to allow the sale of concentrates as long as they are infused with
trace amounts of another substance like vegetable oil.
Slowly, but with visual growth,
Washington state inches towards a workable, legal weed market. The Liquor Control Board continues to
emphasize its commitment to public safety and health in all aspects of
production. But what guarantee of
security is offered to the potential producers growing Washington’s newest
commodity? Well, none really. The growing, distribution and selling of
Marijuana still is illegal under Federal law.
Shortly after the passing of Initiative 502, Governor Jay Inslee met
with U.S. attorney general Eric Holder.
During this encounter Gov. Inslee laid out the state’s plans to keep
Washington grown weed within state borders.
Although the federal government has not declared it will put a stop to
the industries emerging in Washington and Colorado, it has not given its
blessing either. News reports have
hinted that some in Congress are in favor of letting states decide. This would not be a federally endorsed
legalization, instead, states would choose how to approach the issue of
marijuana. In the meantime, the federal
silence is not comforting. July brought
federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries in Olympia and Seattle
Washington, with little information as to what caused those facilities to be
targeted. As the LCB moves forward with
preparations to get marijuana in-stores by spring 2014, any indications of what
the federal government will allow (or overlook) are welcome. If the market is allowed to open as planned, it will be up to Washington to demonstrate to the federal
government that they will not become the newest distributors for marijuana to
other U.S. states.
