Max of 7 marijuana retailers allowed

OLYMPIA - The state Liquor Control Board Wednesday approved the filing of proposed rules to implement Initiative 502, including setting a maximum number of marijuana outlets statewide.

The board allocated a maximum of 334 outlets in the state, including a maximum of seven in Grant County, with two in Moses Lake, one in each Ephrata and Quincy, and three at-large locations.

Members of the Grant County Association of Cities and Towns met last week, the same day U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Justice Department would not try to stop Washington and Colorado from implementing voter-approved marijuana laws.

Many obstacles still remain for cities preparing for the initiative.

The first step for Moses Lake and other cities in the county is to map out the city and determine where and if any locations could be established as marijuana retailers, Moses Lake City Manager Joseph Gavinski said.

According to the proposed rules, marijuana stores cannot be established within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center, child care center, public park, public transit center, library or arcade. Moses Lake has 31 city parks, not including the Larson Recreation Center and Surf 'n Slide Aquatic Center.

Activity trails are not included in the 1,000 foot buffer zone, but the city council could decide to include the trails into the park system, Gavinski said.

Two public forums will be held to discuss the proposed rules released Wednesday, and if no other changes are required, the board is scheduled to vote for final approval in mid-October. If approved the board will begin accepting license applications in November.

The new proposed rules also set a limit for the amount of recreational marijuana produced in the state at 40 metric tons and also include limits on three licenses for any person for growing, processing or retailing.