Marijuana laws

Proposed ban on hash, pot extract irks critics

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:39:37 +0000

Washington’s proposed marijuana rules weren't even 24-hours old when critics began finding things not to like. The 46-pages of draft regulations released Thursday cover everything from where marijuana can be grown to the criminal backgrounds of license applicants. But it’s the section on marijuana concentrates that’s getting some negative buzz.

Five things you should know about the proposed marijuana rules

Martha Kang — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:47:55 +0000

The state Liquor Control Board on Thursday released a draft of rules proposed to help regulate legal marijuana. The 46-page document is filled with details relevant to those who plan to apply for a pot license.

Here are five things non-license seekers should know about the proposed rules:

State releases draft of rules for legal marijuana

The Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:13:14 +0000

Officials in Washington state took their first stab at setting rules for the state's new marijuana industry Thursday, nearly eight months after voters here legalized pot for adults.

Among the preliminary regulations: They want to track marijuana from "seed to store," and while they're putting a cap on the number of retail stores in each county, they're not planning to limit the number of licensed pot growers or processors.

Seattle officials look to restrict urban pot farms

Gabriel Spitzer — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:06:00 +0000

Seattle's elected officials are moving to make sure sprawling marijuana farms don’t take over the city’s industrial areas, though it’s not clear whether growers would want to locate in the city at all.

Just who actually gets licensed to grow marijuana will be up to the state. But Seattle City Council members say any Seattle grower will likely end up in one of the industrial areas along the Duwamish corridor or Interbay.

ACLU, public health groups cautioning marijuana rulemakers

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:33:49 +0000

How do you build a whole new industry – and undermine a black market -- without increasing its customer base?

That’s the challenge state regulators are facing as they write the rules that will govern recreational marijuana in Washington. The American Civil Liberties Union is urging caution.

Washington lawmakers consider new pot regulations

Alexandra Kocik — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:35:00 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington state regulators could consider the criminal backgrounds of people looking to legally sell marijuana. That’s one provision of a bill rolled out Tuesday in Olympia to regulate pot sales.

The bill would make a number of changes to Initiative 502, the marijuana law approved by Washington voters last November. It would make siting a pot store easier by decreasing the distance the businesses have to be from schools, parks and other public areas.

Yakima marijuana hearing draws entrepreneurs, advocates, moms

Anna King — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:10:00 +0000

YAKIMA, Wash. – Marijuana advocates, people concerned about the effects of drugs on children and hopeful entrepreneurs filled a huge room at the Yakima Convention Center Thursday night. This hearing is part of a series across Washington on how to implement voter-approved marijuana legalization.

Idaho bills would keep state from following neighbors on pot

Jessica Robinson — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:11:00 +0000

Idaho is now hemmed in by four states where marijuana is legal in some form, and a panel of state lawmakers fears Idaho could be next.

Will the feds try to snuff out state marijuana laws?

Carrie Johnson — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:20:34 +0000

The Justice Department has a big decision to make.

Parts of new laws in Colorado and Washington that legalize small amounts of recreational marijuana will take effect early next month. The Obama administration needs to choose whether it will sue to stop the legislation or let those states go their own way — even though the drug remains illegal under federal law.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, says the message he got from voters is unambiguous.

"Our voters want marijuana to be regulated, like alcohol," Hickenlooper said at a recent news conference.

Alleged pot use on Ducks football team draws national attention

Rob Manning — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:53:40 +0000

The University of Oregon’s athletics director is responding this morning to a story alleging widespread pot use among Ducks football players.

The article in “ESPN The Magazine” rehashes some familiar incidents – including the legal run-ins of former quarterbacks Jeremiah Masoli and Darron Thomas. It highlights safety Cliff Harris’ infamously saying “we smoked it all” to a police officer, when asked to hand over marijuana.

Group pushing pot initiatives in 6 Washington cities

The Associated Press — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 22:59:41 +0000

A group that promotes the legalization of marijuana says it will file initiatives in six Washington cities to make pot prosecution the lowest law enforcement priority in those places.

Pot plantations laying waste to national forests

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:50:10 +0000

With its delicate, bright-green leaves, it’s a beautiful plant to look at.

And its medicinal qualities are well-known, but it requires huge amounts of water and light to grow.

And that’s just the start of the problems caused by marijuana that authorities have been discovering growing in national forests.

Marijuana legalization to be decided by Washington voters

The Associated Press — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:40:11 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state lawmakers said Thursday that an initiative to legalize and regulate the recreational use of marijuana will be decided by voters.

If passed, Initiative 502 would make Washington the first state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana and would place it at odds with federal law, which bans marijuana use of all kinds.

42 Wash. lawmakers ask DEA to reclassify marijuana

The Associated Press — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:52:08 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — More than three dozen Washington state lawmakers are asking the federal government to reclassify marijuana.

In a letter to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Monday, the lawmakers said they supported Gov. Chris Gregoire's previous request on the issue. Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule II drug would allow it to be prescribed by doctors and handled by pharmacists.

Olympia hearing Wednesday on medical marijuana

The Associated Press — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:55:21 +0000

Some Washington lawmakers are trying to pass a new medical marijuana law that would legalize nonprofit dispensaries.

Supporters hope it will clear up the uncertainty that followed Gov. Chris Gregoire's partial veto last year of a medical marijuana law.