State: We need help sorting out rules for pot industry
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - State officials tasked with developing a legal marijuana industry in Washington state have a problem: There's no similar system anywhere in the world that they can look to for guidance.
The state's Liquor Control Board also says it has little insight into the basics of pot cultivation, such as how the marijuana should be grown, how much acreage the state will need to develop sufficient supply, how it should be processed or how it should be sold at the retail level.
They are looking to solicit bids from experts from around the country while at the same time taking a lot of unsolicited phone calls from those who want help.
"There are a lot of people who think they have a lot of expertise in this area," said Rick Garza, deputy director of the Liquor Control Board, during a state Senate hearing Friday.
State leaders are moving ahead with developing the system even as they await word of whether the federal government will oppose it. Several state agencies have been forming teams that will look at issues such as licensing, legal matters, enforcement and education.
Alison Holcomb, the drug policy director for the ACLU of Washington State who led efforts to pass the marijuana legalization initiative, said the goal of the measure was to make the marijuana retail outlets similar to the recently disbanded state-run liquor stores. She says they would be very controlled, very boring retail outlets with limited signage.
Holcomb said they don't envision state employees selling the marijuana, however, as they want individuals to volunteer to lead the shops since there is still uncertainty over how the federal government will respond.
"They do still risk arrest and prosecution under federal law," Holcomb said.
Garza said they knew from the beginning that Washington would be creating a system that would be unprecedented in the U.S., so officials started looking internationally for guidance.
They didn't find much help there, either.
Even countries that are friendly to marijuana users hadn't really gone beyond decriminalization, so Washington will be pioneering with its regulated system.
Possession of marijuana will be legal in Washington state next Thursday, but the process of buying and selling won't be in place for probably another year or so. State financial experts estimate it could raise nearly $2 billion in tax revenue over the next five years.
Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, urged state officials to move quickly on developing the system - perhaps faster than its original timeline. He expressed concern that drug gangs would take over the market and entrench themselves before the state has a chance to get organized.
"The more time that goes on, the more we're asking for trouble," Kline said.
The state's Liquor Control Board also says it has little insight into the basics of pot cultivation, such as how the marijuana should be grown, how much acreage the state will need to develop sufficient supply, how it should be processed or how it should be sold at the retail level.
They are looking to solicit bids from experts from around the country while at the same time taking a lot of unsolicited phone calls from those who want help.
"There are a lot of people who think they have a lot of expertise in this area," said Rick Garza, deputy director of the Liquor Control Board, during a state Senate hearing Friday.
State leaders are moving ahead with developing the system even as they await word of whether the federal government will oppose it. Several state agencies have been forming teams that will look at issues such as licensing, legal matters, enforcement and education.
Alison Holcomb, the drug policy director for the ACLU of Washington State who led efforts to pass the marijuana legalization initiative, said the goal of the measure was to make the marijuana retail outlets similar to the recently disbanded state-run liquor stores. She says they would be very controlled, very boring retail outlets with limited signage.
Holcomb said they don't envision state employees selling the marijuana, however, as they want individuals to volunteer to lead the shops since there is still uncertainty over how the federal government will respond.
"They do still risk arrest and prosecution under federal law," Holcomb said.
Garza said they knew from the beginning that Washington would be creating a system that would be unprecedented in the U.S., so officials started looking internationally for guidance.
They didn't find much help there, either.
Even countries that are friendly to marijuana users hadn't really gone beyond decriminalization, so Washington will be pioneering with its regulated system.
Possession of marijuana will be legal in Washington state next Thursday, but the process of buying and selling won't be in place for probably another year or so. State financial experts estimate it could raise nearly $2 billion in tax revenue over the next five years.
Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, urged state officials to move quickly on developing the system - perhaps faster than its original timeline. He expressed concern that drug gangs would take over the market and entrench themselves before the state has a chance to get organized.
"The more time that goes on, the more we're asking for trouble," Kline said.
Until a licensed grower produces Colombian Gold, there will always be a black market in WA for the good stuff. None of the skunk weed varieties, as good as they claim to be, can compare.
The state needs to contact univ that have cultication programs such as uw and have clones and hire stoners to run the dispenseries .. they need to conduct tests on stoners to see and evaluate what the buds do to ppl . id be a tester for sure ..
The blind leading the blind! Â Clueless Washington bureaucrats should NOT be tasked with developing a Cannabis industry! Â
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Yeah...and if you're dumb enough to believe any of the propaganda they're putting out now...you deserve the higher price they're going to charge when they "research" everything and finally assign it to a regulatory system. Worried about gangs "entrenching" themselves before they can dip into the market. There's the sense of urgency that they want you to believe. Good Luck !
Don't you think that the officials should have thought about how the process was going to be handled before hand? Yea there was a possiblity that pot wasn't going to be legalized but there was that chance it would have. Prob didn't think that it was going to be legalized now they are all scrambling and looking for some guidence from other states that have it legalized. Doesn't every state go by their own guidelines?
On a funny note......Stores sales will rise..wouldn't u think with all those people out there getting stoned then having to go to the store for munchies, LOL
Anyone watch "Border Wars" out there? Sure you do. Notice how much pot they seize and then destroy? Washington should offer to buy it off the Feds and then resale it here. The Feds make money. Washington State makes money. Mexican cartels loose money. What's not to like?
 @I Like Meat Nobody wants what Mexico has to offer pertaining to marijuana..... Canada doesn't produce good weed in addition... California, Oregon and Washington State produce the best.
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand." - Â Milton Friedman Â
Washington isn't the Sahara and pot isn't sand but I think were really close on proving this one.
Too bad that this legislation is about 30 years late. Now, isn't THAT a dichotomy???????? In a profoundly liberal state as Washington, why has it taken 30 years to legalize marijuana? I only tried it a couple of times during the 1960's, no big deal, all I got was a little paranoia, thinking I would get caught and loose my professional license. It simply wasn't worth it.
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I realize the experience is different for different people, but I'm not interested. As for any new rules and taxation, etc., go for bust if you must. BUT all the illegal sources for getting the stuff, tax-free, have been well established for those prior 30 years.
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Good luck thinking up new, effective rules that can be tax revenue producing.
 @Yadayada Started smoking 45 years ago and then stopped for over 20 years. As I look back I wish I had never stopped smoking. It would have helped getting through some of the rough patches.
But of course they do. They did such a bang up job with privatizing liquor that we're now seeing organized thefts of booze, how could legalizing pot be anything but a success?
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LOL, this state couldn't run itself out of a wet paper sack w/out a panic attack. I find it completely laughable that those so adamant that it had to be passed, didn't have a plan in the first place and the state still allowed the measure to move forward. This state will become a haven for illegals (even more so than its idiotic sanctuary policies), who will help propogate the state's newest cash crop. The cartels from Canada and the cartels from Mexico will have a field day buying up property and over in Cashmere, Aplets and Cotlets will find a new day to shine as the "munchies alternative", partnering w/ the pot growers to utilize labor in both arenas.Â
They need a plan, I've got a plan, it's called stop putting democrats in charge, because they don't know their heads from a hole in the ground!
@takncarabizniz uh, who was state Attorney General? Oh yes, Rob McKenna, Republican.
I get it. It's against Federal law! After Obama overturns the Federal law, there will be no problem but, until then it is against Federal law. JMO.
 @mustang sally lol, Obama is never going to overturn Unconstitutional drug laws. The Feds make too much money off of drug related seizures.Â
@Dredd57Â Â If people start getting gunned down in our State by the drug cartel he may step in and enforce the federal law.
This is the perfect example of the old saying -Â putting the cart before the horse. Now Washington State needs to worry about drug gangs taking over this drug production? Good job about thinking this one through (sarcasm).
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I said before that I would be leaving this whacked out state once my folks pass away. This fortifies my decision.
I need to sort out how the hell I'm going to move back to Washington.
@tampadawg Colorado passed legal consumption too.....so that gives you two options. Hahaha!
Hey! If we play stupid we'll still get paid for doing NOTHING!!!!
@ReallyRUSerious Isn't that happening now with SSI and DSHS? Just saying
SSI is pay for doing nothing? Doesn't sound like you pay FICA. I paid into it since 1973 so I think its safe for me to say the doing's been done!
We already have too many kids in our schools behaving badly and the freeing of marijuana is going to turn them into monsters. The news and offers are interesting today http://tvinternet.notlong.com
It's not going to be legal for kids any more than alcohol is right now. There will be no "freeing" of marijuana. Pot will be controlled by far more rules, regulations, and enforcement than it is right now. Whether or not your kids obey the rules is up to them and you.
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Wait a minute, so all these years of "medical marihuana" didn't happen? Come on!!! Lame excuse is an understatement for this one...
Whoa dude, the state needs to chill, all these negative vibes can't be good, they need to look to the producers of weeds and kick back and .. it's all okay, like, everyone's gotta mellow out!!! Â 'n stuff!!
all these wise and thoughtful voices and yet not one single mention do I yet see in regards to GMO labeling or Organic certification, can this portend a waiting slam dunk for Monsatanto and friends?
This is a good "problem" to have. Note, the sky has yet to fall..
One common misconception is that marijuana comes from the drug cartels. FALSE! Only about 5-10% of American marijuana comes from the Mexican cartels. The best stuff is grown right at home. Ask the local drug dealers how to sell. Shouldn't be that hard, or maybe the dispensary.
@jj leonard do you think that they would feel comfortable asking "homegrowers' how its done?
 @jj leonard It's giving only a few that have major bucks a chance to grow for the state. Licenses should be issued to anyone willing to cultivate and then distribute their harvest just as a farmer takes his/her crop to the market.
This sounds simple but give out a reasonable amount of licenses( iheard initially they were thinking of 300?) its a process start small then extend for supply in demand, this is new but we shouldnt be scared of it...look at alcohol i know different engine altogether but has a similiar impact. I dont smoke but i dont have a problem with it, this is a great opportunity to show how if responsibally run we can create a revenue stream and help educate people on the positives of responsable maijauna use!Â
 @Alex Sad... Alex the state will give out monopolies to those with the most bucks to cultivate. The small gardener won't stand a chance at getting a license. Places that sell bongs, pipes and other smoking supplies should be the places where people can buy marijuana legally. In addition small licensed gardeners should be allowed to sell their harvest to those retail shops selling smoking devices. The whole friggin' way I-502 was written was to provide only a few individuals to prosper and the state to receive taxes. Licenses should be given to anyone willing to grow.
@Funky-Munky @Alex So much nonsense. Let the market regulate itself. Give as many grow licenses as needed. Same for processing. Retail licenses do something similar to alcohol ones, no limit in number, just verify the retail location is appropriate.
"You have to pass the Bill to see whats in it"
 @Tacobender50 That's how are supposed health care laws are now, right? Look at how well they've worked to curb rising health care costs. A stunning failure of a success, lol.
You can't possibly be surprised about the health care issue. It's only true design is to make sure the doctor's get paid when esmerelda and her 20 kids go in to the ER with the sniffles. And who's going to pay for it ? US !
For folks who are wondering what's so hard about this, why they need to figure stuff out, think about it. Â One of the things the state must decide is how to license companies to grow marijuana, as this law states that private citizens aren't allowed to grow their own. Â If the state gives out too many licenses or the licenses allow too much marijuana growth, then there could be huge surpluses, and there are no other states we can export the surplus to (even Colorado, because it would be illegal to transport the marijuana over the states between here and there). Â It would encourage smuggling. Â And if they don't give enough licenses to meet demand, then people will go to illegal drug dealers. Â But nowhere else in the world does a government license marijuana grows, and they'd have to get various competing illegal gangs to get together and share information to figure out how much acerage is needed to supply Washington State with its current marjuana supply.
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And this is just one of the things the state has to figure out.
 @CommutingGuy its medicine, same way they do other prescribed medications, Â
Has the liquor control board given any thought to the individuals that have been prosecuted in the past for marijuana production and can no longer find work because of a felony conviction? I believe it is the responsibility of the state to provide work for those individuals that have been effected by Washington's states decision to prosecute for the production, sale or distribution of marijuana. I also believe that the state should consider production of itâs own marijuana at facilities that are currently vacant and owned by the state and take advantage of the skills and years of experience that is currently being overlooked. The state has an opportunity to make right with itâs citizens that have had there lives ruined because of a Draconian law forced on us by the Federal Government. Give us jobs doing what we know. Thank you. Glen Johnson
People will not buy State pot when they can grow it themselves, the state will ultimately spend more money kicking in your doors trying to combat the competition, welcome the new sanctioned gang.
 @Eugene357 That sounds good, but the vast majority of people won't want to grow it. Growing it costs time, money, and knowledge. I'm totally willing to bet most people will want to avoid the hassle and just buy it from the state.
 @jowsuf  @Eugene357 Don't worry, plenty of your neighbors have been and will be growing it, they will be more than happy to sell it cheaper to you than the state now that its legal.
@Eugene357 Wrong. I would buy legal, taxed pot if the quality is comparable.
 @scared_citizen  @Eugene357 Even if the tax drives up the price 3 even 4x what the black market is selling it for? I find that hard to believe.
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If I could buy my groceries and toilet paper on the black market for cheaper, I WOULD.
Look to the past for your answers.  Several states repealed prohibition before the feds did.  What did they do?  See if that gives you a clue. If not, go to Amsterdam.
People are stupid if they think gangs are out of this. All the sheep have done is to cut into their profit margin a bit.
 @Common Sense A whole lot more than "a bit".  It's like the music industry with MP3's - when there was no legal way to buy music digitally song by song, everyone pirated their music.  But it didn't take long at all for those crimes to really fall out of the mainstream once there were legal methods of buying digital music.
Maybe think about how it's going to work first before proposing a law like this..I am personally not looking forward to having this legal, but majority rules. Not always for the best though.
 @Rica It wasn't the government who proposed the law.  But this is why the new law gives the government an entire year to figure it out - they have until the end of 2013.
 @Rica The WAR on drugs has made more crime then it solved and look at the police that get in on the action. Look up police misconduct.net or LEAP .