The Washington State Senate just passed Senate Bill 5052, which would integrate the state’s currently unregulated medical marijuana industry with its heavily regulated recreational marijuana industry. One of the interesting aspects of this bill, is that it would provide for the opening of a new licensing window for retail marijuana businesses that would serve registered medical marijuana patients.
The Senate Bill also paves the way for opening up a new licensing window for marijuana producers. Recognizing the need to expand marijuana production for medical marijuana purposes, the Senate Bill provides for expanding the amount of production space allowed for current licensees. If this proves insufficient, a licensing window will be opened for producers who agree to grow medical marijuana. Priority in licensing will be given to producer license applicants who have an application pending on the effective date of the law and then to new producer applicants.
The Senate Bill will now be considered by the state House of Representatives.
For more information on the regulation of recreational marijuana businesses in in Washington State, please contact Heather Wolf.