Liquor control board adopts rec marijuana rules

The Washington State Liquor Control Board has adopted regulations and controls for how a private recreational marijuana market will be implemented in the state under voter-approved Initiative 502.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board has adopted regulations and controls for how a private recreational marijuana market will be implemented in the state under voter-approved Initiative 502.

“There’s only one change, and that will be done by emergency rule making,” said WSLCB spokesman Mikhail Carpenter of a 1,000-foot distance rule separating stores from exclusion zones. “We had it on there as most common path of travel. We’ve changed it to ‘straight line’ to align with federal guidelines.”

A 30-day application period for licenses to grow, process and sell marijuana will start Nov. 18, just two days after the rules take effect. King County has been approved for 61 retail outlets out of the 334 to be allowed statewide, and Bothell qualifies for two stores.

The liquor control board will host seven educational seminars across the state regarding I-502 and the newly-adopted rules. Two sessions will be held 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30-4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. To register, go to https://wslcbseattle.eventbrite.com.