Politics & Government
Pot Plan Approved: Outdoor Grows Allowed, Sales Restricted to Lab-Tested Products
A final set of public hearings on the implementation of I-502 will be held in early August throughout the Puget Sound area.
The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) took a major step toward the implementation of legal marijuana on Wednesday by approving 42 pages of rules.
What do you think of the approved rules? Are they strict enough? Tell us in the comments section.
One of the key changes in the latest plan is a section that allows outdoor marijuana grows, provided they are enclosed with a physical barrier that also obstructs public view and meet certain security requirements.
WSLCB provided the following highlights from the updated documents:
- All grows must meet strictly controlled on-site security requirements;
- Strict surveillance and transportation requirements;
- Robust traceability software system that will track inventory from start to sale;
- Criminal background checks on all license applicants;
- Tough penalty guidelines for public safety violations including loss of license;
- Restricting certain advertising that may be targeted at children.
- Packaging and label requirements including dosage and warnings;
- Child-resistant packaging for marijuana in solid and liquid forms;
- Only lab tested and approved products will be available;
- Defined serving sizes and package limits on marijuana in solid form;
- Store signage requirements to educate customers.
WSLCB says the document reflects input from local governments, law enforcement, industry members and the more than 3,000 people who attended a series of public forums earlier this year.
“Public safety is our top priority,” Board Chair Sharon Foster said in a news release. “These rules fulfill the public expectation of creating a tightly-regulated and controlled system while providing reasonable access to participation in the market.”
A final series of public hearings on the plan will be held Aug. 6 to 8 at to-be-announced locations around the Puget Sound. WSLCB says it will post the schedule on its website in coming weeks.
The rules are set to be adopted on Aug. 14 and go into effect on Sept. 16, the same day the state would begin accepting license applications for producers, processors and retailers.
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