LCB, More Of The Same, But A Bunch Of The Same

The Liquor Control Board expanded it’s time for input on the first of at least three major regulations they will adopt for the recreational production, processing and sale of cannabis under I-502. They did not issue the extension because they had nothing to do. The LCB is still getting slammed at the public very crowded forums they are holding around the state taking input from citizens. Hundreds are filling concert halls and jam-packed meeting rooms. Summary of lead comments at this point: Watch out for the big guys, don’t mess up MMJ programs, and figure out a way to track the cannabis so it is pure, and from Washington. Hat’s off to Sharon Foster, and staff at LCB for realizing just how big and precedent-setting this whole “seed-to-sale” platform is. Your accommodation is an example other agencies should adopt. An atta’ boy to Chris Marr for joining the LCB chair at many of the forums. Notice below:

We would like to remind you that we have extended the deadline to submit your public comments for the “Producer License.” The new deadline for public comment is March 15, 2013. If you would like to submit your public comments you may do so by email at rules@liq.wa.gov, by fax at 360-664-9689 or by mailing them directly to:

Rules Coordinator
Liquor Control Board
P.O. Box 43080
Olympia, WA 98504-3080

Thank you for your continued interest in the I-502 implementation process

Twenty-five Percent Gross Receipts Tax Proposed For MMJ, HB 1789

In one of the strangest moves yet for cannabis this session House Fiscal Chairs Hunter and Carlyle announced an interest in bringing tax parity to cannabis and introduced a bill (HB 1789) that would place a twenty-five percent tax on MMJ. Recreational use cannabis will be packing a tax just north of seventy-five-percent by the time the initiative-dictated-three-tiered state revenue is added up. Monday at 1:30 PM the bill will be heard in House Finance Committee. Our comments are running, well, unanimous against the bill. Go early, good seats will go fast. We like the title: “Creating greater consistency in the regulatory schemes applied to marijuana during the transition to the implementation of Initiative Measure No. 502.”
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1789&year=2013

All Talk And No Walk, Again, What’s In A Name? HB 1876?

There has been a lot of chatter about rebranding or at least figuring out a way to add “cannabis” to the LCB’s name, or brand. It will take legislation. Not an amendment to I-502, just the statue that covers the LCB general operations. Since the bill is not introduced yet, (cut-off next week folks) some have suggested that HB 1876 could be the vehicle. Might also be a good lesson for Rep. Moscoso regarding titles, as in “tight and loose.” You could drive a truck through this one. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1876&year=2013

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