Washington’s Liquor Control Board has formally adopted 43-pages of rules for legal, recreational marijuana. The unanimous vote Wednesday caps a lengthy process that began after last year’s approval of legal pot.
There was no confetti, balloons or cake; more a sense of relief that the heavy-lifting is done. Washington’s three-person Liquor Board and its staff have been mired for nearly a year in the intricacies of how to regulate the growing, processing and selling of marijuana and marijuana-infused products.
Board member Chris Marr cautioned the rules will need to be adjusted over time.
“I think we all acknowledge we might not have it exactly right today, but I do think we’re in an excellent position to open up stores by the middle of next year and capture the 25-percent of the market that our consultant tells us we can reasonable expect to capture initially,” said Marr.
The marijuana rules will become effective on Nov. 16. Two days later, the state will begin accepting applications from would-be pot entrepreneurs.
Applicants will have to have lived in Washington for at least three months and pass a background check, among other requirements.
