State Liquor Board Releases Dates for I-502 Public Forums

The Washington State Liquor Control Board has released the dates and locations for a series of six public meetings that will address implementation of I-502.

Here is the schedule and agneda:

Jan. 22: WSLCB Headquarters, Conference Room 201
• 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501

Jan. 24: Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room
• 600 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

Feb. 7: Clark College, Vancouver, Foster Auditorium
• 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663

Feb. 12: Spokane City Hall, Council Chambers
• 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201

Feb. 19: Skagit Valley College, Mt. Vernon, Theater
• 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Feb. 21: Yakima City Hall, Council Chambers
• 129 North Second St, Yakima, WA 98901

Agenda
• 6 to 7 p.m. Open house with board and staff 
• 7 to 7:05 p.m. Board welcome
• 7:05 to 7:15 p.m. Overview of board’s role in implementation and timeline
• 7:15 to 10 p.m. Public testimony

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) has adopted a tentative timeline for implementation of Initiative 502, according to an email sent by the WSLCB Monday.

The timeline (which can be found in an attached pdf), shows a month-by-month estimated view of certain milestones in implementing the initiative, which will allow adults to purchase and use small amounts of marijuana in the state. 

By June, the board expects to begin accepting marijuana producer license applications. In September, they expect to begin issuing producer licenses and taking applications for processor and retail licenses, with those licenses becoming effective as of Dec. 1.

What do you think of the tentative timeline to implement I-502? Do you see any stumbling blocks along the way? Tell us in comments.

The timeline is subject to change, the email said. However, the timeline was vetted internally and is a general estimate of what to expect in the coming year.

Upcoming Public Forums

The WSLCB will announce a series of evening public forums Tuesday, Jan. 15. These forums will be an opportunity for people to: 

A) Meet certain Board staff involved in implementation;

B) Get an update on implementation; and

C) Provide input (testimony) to the Board about things they believe are important for the Board to consider as it develops rules.

The first will be in Olympia the evening of Jan. 22. Patch will post details as soon as they are available.

The November passage of Initiative 502 made personal use amounts of marijuana legal in the state. The state must now license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for persons over 21; remove state-law criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes; tax marijuana sales; and earmark marijuana-related revenues by a deadline of Dec. 1, 2013.