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Tag: Washington State

  • Washington State To Pardon Thousands Of Pot Possession Charges

    Washington State To Pardon Thousands Of Pot Possession Charges

    The governor’s office says about 3,500 citizens qualify for the pardon according to the plan, called the Marijuana Justice Initiative.

    Governor Jay Inslee of the state of Washington announced he is offering to pardon thousands of people charged with only a misdemeanor marijuana charge, which will help citizens who would otherwise be dogged with these minor crimes as they seek employment or look for housing.

    The caveat is that the charge must be a state charge between January 1, 1998 and December 5, 2012, not a local ordinance. The December date marks the day marijuana possession was legalized in the state. The governor’s office says about 3,500 citizens qualify for the pardon according to the plan, called the Marijuana Justice Initiative.

    “We shouldn’t be punishing people for something that is no longer illegal behavior in the state of Washington,” said Inslee, believing that there is great support for the initiative.

    Inslee has always been enthusiastic about legal marijuana in his state. Last year on television, the governor bragged to host Bill Maher that “we’ve got the best weed in the United States of America.”

    Those who need the pardon can apply on the website of the governor’s office. Those who receive one will have the charge scrubbed from public criminal records; however, a copy will be retained for law enforcement knowledge only. To have the court records scrubbed as well, a petition can be made to the court that ruled over the charges.

    Some regard the moves to be good publicity for a possible presidential campaign.

    “While it’s a wonderful gesture, it won’t pardon everybody,” said Seattle Hempfest General Manager Sharon Whitson. “They really do need to look at it all the way up the scale.”

    Inslee agrees the initiative doesn’t do enough but claims it’s a good first step. He said citizens should urge other local authorities to follow his lead. His advisers claim that Inslee is looking into more comprehensive legislation for pardoning remaining marijuana offenders as well.

    A bill that was proposed in 2017 that would require all courts to hear any requests to clear these crimes did not pass. The city of Seattle, however, has begun to follow suit, vacating around 542 Seattle citizens of these charges.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Ban On Select Edibles Alarms Washington State Cannabis Retailers

    Ban On Select Edibles Alarms Washington State Cannabis Retailers

    Retailers and makers will be allowed to sell banned products until the inventory is exhausted or until April 2019.

    The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board took many marijuana businesses aback on October 3 when they announced that cannabis-infused products that may have appeal to children – gummy candies, lollipops and/or brightly colored products – will be prohibited from sale.

    Makers and retailers alike expressed concern that they were not given adequate warning about what the board is calling a “re-evaluation” of such products; though edibles make up a relatively small portion of marijuana products sold in Washington state (9%), they are a significant revenue stream for many independent companies.

    The Board will hold a webinar on October 16 to address concerns about the impending re-evaluation, and companies whose products fall under the ban will have a chance to appeal.

    The Board made its announcement via an online presentation, which ascribed its decision as an attempt to address concerns from board members as well as “stakeholders and the public” in regard to infused edible candy.

    A re-evaluation of such products, which were previously approved by the Board, led to the new ruling, which stated that “all production of hard candy (of any style, shape or size), tarts, fruit chews, colorful chocolates, jellies and any gummy type products should cease, as they will not qualify” under the new guidelines. The rule will take effect January 1, 2019.

    Drinks, baked goods, chips and tinctures do not fall under the ban, as well as certain types of candies, such as chocolate, caramels or mints, provided that they are not presented in a manner that is “especially appealing to children,” such as certain colors, flavors, shapes or additions such as sprinkles or frosting.

    Retailers and makers will be allowed to sell banned products until the inventory is exhausted or until April 3, 2019, after which they must be disposed of according to marijuana waste requirements. 

    Retailers and manufacturers will have to resubmit labels and products for their items to the Board prior to the January 1 activation date; if their products do not meet the new requirements, they will be informed that board approval is being rescinded. The notification will also include information on how to appeal the decision.

    Response from retailers and manufacturers was immediate and deeply concerned. While many support the idea of ensuring that products do not appeal to kids, they were also worried about the impact of the ban on their business. “If we lose the ability to make these candies, we’ll be out of business,” said Craft Elixirs owner Jamie Hoffman. 

    Diana Isaiou, owner of American Baked Co., said that more than half of her company’s sales are edible fruit chews, which require the purchase of large and expensive amounts of ingredients and packaging prior to manufacture. “We don’t get business loans in the marijuana industry,” she said. “These are people’s personal bank rolls.”

    Others expressed dismay at what they considered an arbitrary ban. “I’m concerned that whole categories of products are being tossed out categorically,” said Logan Bowers, owner of Hashtag Cannabis. “I don’t see how a chew is inherently more enticing to a child than a cookie.”

    The Liquor and Cannabis Board will offer a link to register for the October 16 webinar on the site.

    View the original article at thefix.com