Tag: marijuana

Implementation of Measure 91: the OLCC is Picking up the Pace

The OLCC announced on May 1st its approach for addressing the implementation of recreational marijuana in Oregon. The OLCC appointed a Rules Advisory Committee (“RAC”) made up of 15 members. The RAC will meet once a month starting June 19, and represents the marijuana industry, local government, law enforcement and the general public. In addition … Continue Reading

Oregon Liquor Control Commission Given Job of Regulating Recreational Marijuana

Following in the steps of Washington and Colorado, Oregon voters passed Ballot Measure 91 (PDF) on November 4, opening the door to legalized recreational marijuana in the state. Beginning July 1, 2015, the Control, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act allows Oregonians 21 years and older to possess up to eight ounces of dried … Continue Reading

Compliance Checklist for Mandatory Quality Assurance Testing of Marijuana Products

To considerable fanfare – and the occasional stumble – the legal recreational marijuana industry opened for business in Washington state last week. So far, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) has issued the state’s first 24 marijuana retailer licenses, representing the first of 334 licenses allotted by the WSLCB for retail sales who have … Continue Reading

Doors Open for Business for Licensed Marijuana Retailers in Washington State

Hundreds of eager customers lined up outside of Washington’s newly licensed marijuana retailers on Tuesday to make history by participating in the first legal sales of recreational marijuana in the state. Earlier this week, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) issued the state’s first 24 marijuana retailer licenses. These businesses represent the first of … Continue Reading

Colorado Amends Ethics Rules to Provide Safe Harbor for Lawyers Advising Marijuana Businesses

According to a new comment adopted by Colorado’s Supreme Court last week, Colorado lawyers who provide legal services to state-regulated medical and recreational marijuana businesses will not violate the state’s Rules of Professional Conduct. The rule change added the following comment to Rule 1.2 regarding the scope of representation and allocation of authority between the … Continue Reading

First Recreational Marijuana Licenses Issued in Washington

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) issued the state’s first licenses to produce and process recreational marijuana today. According to news reports, the licenses were issued to Spokane’s Sean Green who will operate his business under the trade name Kouchlock Productions. The WSLCB began processing applications for all three license types (producer, processor and … Continue Reading

Ethical Challenges for Lawyers in the Face of State Marijuana Legalization

UPDATE: Although the RPC proposal mentioned below is still under consideration by the Washington State Supreme Court, the KCBA Board of Trustees has adopted an ethics advisory opinion to assist the bar in the interim as attorneys consider practice issues under the existing RPCs. The full text of the KCBA Ethics Advisory Opinion on I-502 & Rules of … Continue Reading

Washington Liquor Control Board Announces Marijuana Licensing Educational Seminars

Over the next few weeks, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) Marijuana Licensing staff will be conducting a series of educational seminars across Washington State. During the seminars, WSLCB staff will be advising potential licensees of the license application process under Initiative 502 and will be available to answer any additional questions. Those interested … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Federal Marijuana Policy Hearing

With several states now moving forward with legalized medical or recreational marijuana regulatory schemes, how to obtain business financing remains a hurdle legal marijuana growers and distributers have yet to solve. As noted in a recent New York Times article, “financial institutions, security providers and landlords that serve marijuana businesses can be prosecuted for racketeering, … Continue Reading

What the Federal Government’s New Marijuana Guidance Means for Washington Businesses

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice finally addressed its enforcement strategy as it relates to the recent Washington and Colorado initiatives legalizing marijuana in those jurisdictions.  In a memo issued to U.S. Attorneys (PDF), Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole announced that the United States would not sue the states to overturn the voter-endorsed … Continue Reading

Seminar on I-502 Impacts on Washington State Business and Real Estate Transactions

Stoel Rives attorneys Susan Johnson and Jim Shore will be part of the faculty for a one-day Law Seminars International conference on June 11 regarding Washington’s Initiative 502 that legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Susan will serve as co-chair of the conference, while Jim will present on I502 implications for employer policies and procedures. … Continue Reading

Marijuana Experts Host Live Chat to Discuss New I-502 Rules

With the initial draft rules implementing Initiative 502 (I-502) (PDF) issued just last week and still fresh on the public’s mind, Seattle Times reporter Bob Young and three I-502 experts held a live chat today to answer specific questions about the new rules. State Liquor Control Board Deputy Director Rick Garza, ACLU of Washington drug-policy director … Continue Reading

Washington Liquor Control Board Releases Draft I-502 Rules: what you need to know

Watch for our I-502 draft rules cheat sheet, coming soon! The wait is officially over, folks. Yesterday, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) met its projected mid-May deadline to issue initial draft rules implementing Initiative 502 (I-502) (PDF), Washington state’s recently enacted marijuana reform law. The 46-page proposed addition to the Washington Administrative Code … Continue Reading

I-502 Draft Rules Expected Next Week

It looks like the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) is on track to meet the first of several milestones in the implementation of Initiative 502 (I-502), Washington State’s recently passed marijuana reform law. According to a tweet earlier today from I-502 Implementation (@I502implement), we can expect to see the first draft of I-502 implementing … Continue Reading

Video Interview: Discussing What I-502’s Rollout May Look Like for Businesses with LXBN TV

Following up on our posts on Washington Initiative 502, my colleague Claire Mitchell had the chance to speak with Colin O’Keefe of LXBN regarding the initiative and its implementation for businesses. In the brief interview, Claire explained the rulemaking by the Washington State Liquor Control Board currently underway and offered thoughts on what Washington’s marijuana industry may look like. … Continue Reading

Washington State Liquor Control Board Announces Timeline for Implementing I-502

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) announced its tentative timeline for implementation of Initiative 502 (I-502) yesterday. WSLCB developed this timeline in order to keep the public informed and to identify significant milestones in the implementation process. Rulemaking began in early December with the filing of CR101 for the Producer License, a notice of proposed rulemaking. WSLCB is still accepting public … Continue Reading

A Cautionary Tale in the Conflict Between Federal and State Law Over Marijuana Legalization

As we pointed out in our post “Understanding the Conflict Between Federal Law and Washington Initiative 502,” possession and sale of marijuana remains illegal under federal law even as states push to legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use. We quoted Jenny Durkan, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, as stating that … Continue Reading

Part II: Understanding the Conflict Between Federal Law and Washington Initiative 502

In Part I of our “Understanding Washington Initiative 502” (“I-502”) series, we described how I-502’s licensing regime is scheduled to go into effect late next year. There is no question that I-502 legalizes possession of certain amounts of marijuana under Washington law, and the state licensing structure aimed at regulating the production, distribution, and retail sale of … Continue Reading

Washington State Liquor Control Board Files Notice to Begin Rulemaking Under Initiative 502

Today, the Washington State Liquor Control Board issued its notice of proposed rulemaking to inform stakeholders that the agency is in the initial stage of drafting rules to implement marijuana “producer” licenses and their requirements under Initiative 502. The Initiative was passed by Washington voters earlier this year. During this stage of the rulemaking process, … Continue Reading

Washington State Liquor Control Board to Regulate Marijuana Following Passage of Initiative 502

Co-authored by Susan Johnson and Stephanie Meier Earlier this week, Washington Initiative 502 (I-502), a marijuana law reform measure which appeared on the November 2012 general ballot, won the popular vote passing by a margin of approximately 55% to 45%. As a result, beginning on December 6, 2012, the initiative that is now law will … Continue Reading
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