Recreational marijuana in Washington: Questions and answers for Oregonians
http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf..._wash.html
By Noelle Crombie | ncrombie@oregonian.com
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on July 04, 2014 at 8:00 AM, updated July 04, 2014 at 9:51 AM
WASHINGTON: LEGALIZED MARIJUANA
Recreational marijuana in Washington: Questions and answers for Oregonians
Q: When will Washington’s recreational marijuana stores open?
A: The Washington State Liquor Control Board will issue the first batch of retail licenses on Monday. Stores may open Tuesday, though state officials caution that some retailers may delay opening until the marijuana supply increases.
Q: How many recreational marijuana outlets will Washington have?
The state Liquor Control Board, which regulates recreational marijuana, forwarded 34 establishments to its enforcement division for final inspection. Mikhail Carpenter, a spokesman for the agency, estimates that about 20 retailers, including up to three in Vancouver, will be licensed on Monday.
Q: How many stores will be in Clark County?
A: The state set aside 334 retail licenses statewide and allocated a certain number per county and city. The applicants were chosen by lottery. The state Liquor Control Board allotted a total of 15 retailer licenses for Clark County. They break down this way: Six in Vancouver, one in Battle Ground, one in Washougal and one in Camas. Another six are reserved for the rest of the county.
Only three establishments in Clark County – all in Vancouver – were forwarded to the state’s enforcement officials for final inspection, said Carpenter. Those establishments are the ones likely to be licensed Monday.
Clark County in May imposed a ban on recreational marijuana facilities, which means growers, processors and retailers cannot locate in unincorporated areas. The recreational marijuana law, however, does not prevent the state from issuing licenses to retailers in areas with bans or moratoriums. Whether the prospective retailer can proceed with opening the establishment is between the applicant and the local government.
Q: Who can buy marijuana in Washington’s recreational marijuana stores?
A: Anyone 21 and older.
Q: How much marijuana can a customer purchase at a time?
A: Up to one ounce of marijuana, up to 16 ounces of solid marijuana-infused products and up to 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquid
Q: What types of products will Washington’s stores sell?
A: At first, Washington’s retailers expect to sell dried marijuana flowers, with marijuana-infused products and concentrates coming on line later. Producers of infused-products, like cookies, as well as marijuana concentrates, such as oils, are still undergoing licensing and ramping up production.
As of Wednesday, the state had licensed one processor equipped with a commercial kitchen, where infused foods such as cookies and other treats would be made. The state has issued 60 licenses to people for both producer and processor facilities.
Q: Will marijuana sold in stores undergo lab testing?
A: Yes. The state’s recreational marijuana law requires testing for a range of things, including mold, mildew, pesticides and tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content. The state so far has licensed two certified labs for marijuana testing.
Q: Where can I find a list of stores and addresses?
A: The state does not plan to maintain a website with store names and locations, though on Monday the state Liquor Control Board will release the names of the establishments receiving licenses.
Q: How much will it cost to buy recreational marijuana in Washington?
A: That’s hard to pin down. Estimates put prices between $12 and $25 a gram, including taxes. Main Street Marijuana in Vancouver estimates it will sell dried flowers for $12 to $15 a gram. For comparison, in Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries, cannabis generally sells for $7 to $12 per gram. Black market marijuana sells for $5 to $10 per gram in the Portland area.
Q: Is the product taxed?
A: Marijuana is subject to a 25 percent state excise tax that will go toward a state healthy youth survey, public health efforts aimed at minimizing marijuana use, research on marijuana use, primary health care and dental services administered through community health centers and the general fund. Local sales taxes will be added to the purchase as well.
The state Liquor Control Board estimates that total taxes on marijuana will be about 42 percent, depending on where you buy it. In Vancouver marijuana taxes will total 33.4 percent.
Q: If I purchase marijuana, will there be a record of my name and what I bought?
A: No. The store is required to record the transaction but not details about the customer.
Q: Will Oregonians be required pay sales tax on recreational marijuana?
A: Yes.
Q: If I have an Oregon medical marijuana card, do I have to pay taxes on my purchase?
A: Yes.
Q: Will Washington medical marijuana patients be required to pay taxes on recreational marijuana purchases?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I use marijuana at the store?
A: No. Washington law prohibits on-site consumption.
Q: Can I take the marijuana I buy to Oregon?
It’s illegal to take marijuana across state lines.
Q: What are the penalties if I am caught in Oregon with marijuana I legally purchased in Washington?
A: In Oregon, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a violation. It results in a fine, not arrest or jail time.
Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Pete Simpson, in a 2012 video produced in response to Washington’s recreational marijuana law, said possession of less than an ounce of marijuana has been a “low law enforcement priority” in Portland for 35 years.
“This will not change due to the new Washington law,” he said.
However, driving while under the influence of drugs remains a "high priority" for Portland police, he said.
Washington’s new recreational marijuana law includes a standard for impaired driving: 5 nanograms of active tetrahydrocannabinol per milligram of whole blood. In Oregon, there’s no similar threshold for marijuana impairment. Police in Oregon may arrest a driver if they believe the driver is “impaired to a perceptible degree.”
-- Noelle Crombi
http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf..._wash.html
By Noelle Crombie | ncrombie@oregonian.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on July 04, 2014 at 8:00 AM, updated July 04, 2014 at 9:51 AM
WASHINGTON: LEGALIZED MARIJUANA
Recreational marijuana in Washington: Questions and answers for Oregonians
Q: When will Washington’s recreational marijuana stores open?
A: The Washington State Liquor Control Board will issue the first batch of retail licenses on Monday. Stores may open Tuesday, though state officials caution that some retailers may delay opening until the marijuana supply increases.
Q: How many recreational marijuana outlets will Washington have?
The state Liquor Control Board, which regulates recreational marijuana, forwarded 34 establishments to its enforcement division for final inspection. Mikhail Carpenter, a spokesman for the agency, estimates that about 20 retailers, including up to three in Vancouver, will be licensed on Monday.
Q: How many stores will be in Clark County?
A: The state set aside 334 retail licenses statewide and allocated a certain number per county and city. The applicants were chosen by lottery. The state Liquor Control Board allotted a total of 15 retailer licenses for Clark County. They break down this way: Six in Vancouver, one in Battle Ground, one in Washougal and one in Camas. Another six are reserved for the rest of the county.
Only three establishments in Clark County – all in Vancouver – were forwarded to the state’s enforcement officials for final inspection, said Carpenter. Those establishments are the ones likely to be licensed Monday.
Clark County in May imposed a ban on recreational marijuana facilities, which means growers, processors and retailers cannot locate in unincorporated areas. The recreational marijuana law, however, does not prevent the state from issuing licenses to retailers in areas with bans or moratoriums. Whether the prospective retailer can proceed with opening the establishment is between the applicant and the local government.
Q: Who can buy marijuana in Washington’s recreational marijuana stores?
A: Anyone 21 and older.
Q: How much marijuana can a customer purchase at a time?
A: Up to one ounce of marijuana, up to 16 ounces of solid marijuana-infused products and up to 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquid
Q: What types of products will Washington’s stores sell?
A: At first, Washington’s retailers expect to sell dried marijuana flowers, with marijuana-infused products and concentrates coming on line later. Producers of infused-products, like cookies, as well as marijuana concentrates, such as oils, are still undergoing licensing and ramping up production.
As of Wednesday, the state had licensed one processor equipped with a commercial kitchen, where infused foods such as cookies and other treats would be made. The state has issued 60 licenses to people for both producer and processor facilities.
Q: Will marijuana sold in stores undergo lab testing?
A: Yes. The state’s recreational marijuana law requires testing for a range of things, including mold, mildew, pesticides and tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content. The state so far has licensed two certified labs for marijuana testing.
Q: Where can I find a list of stores and addresses?
A: The state does not plan to maintain a website with store names and locations, though on Monday the state Liquor Control Board will release the names of the establishments receiving licenses.
Q: How much will it cost to buy recreational marijuana in Washington?
A: That’s hard to pin down. Estimates put prices between $12 and $25 a gram, including taxes. Main Street Marijuana in Vancouver estimates it will sell dried flowers for $12 to $15 a gram. For comparison, in Oregon medical marijuana dispensaries, cannabis generally sells for $7 to $12 per gram. Black market marijuana sells for $5 to $10 per gram in the Portland area.
Q: Is the product taxed?
A: Marijuana is subject to a 25 percent state excise tax that will go toward a state healthy youth survey, public health efforts aimed at minimizing marijuana use, research on marijuana use, primary health care and dental services administered through community health centers and the general fund. Local sales taxes will be added to the purchase as well.
The state Liquor Control Board estimates that total taxes on marijuana will be about 42 percent, depending on where you buy it. In Vancouver marijuana taxes will total 33.4 percent.
Q: If I purchase marijuana, will there be a record of my name and what I bought?
A: No. The store is required to record the transaction but not details about the customer.
Q: Will Oregonians be required pay sales tax on recreational marijuana?
A: Yes.
Q: If I have an Oregon medical marijuana card, do I have to pay taxes on my purchase?
A: Yes.
Q: Will Washington medical marijuana patients be required to pay taxes on recreational marijuana purchases?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I use marijuana at the store?
A: No. Washington law prohibits on-site consumption.
Q: Can I take the marijuana I buy to Oregon?
It’s illegal to take marijuana across state lines.
Q: What are the penalties if I am caught in Oregon with marijuana I legally purchased in Washington?
A: In Oregon, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a violation. It results in a fine, not arrest or jail time.
Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Pete Simpson, in a 2012 video produced in response to Washington’s recreational marijuana law, said possession of less than an ounce of marijuana has been a “low law enforcement priority” in Portland for 35 years.
“This will not change due to the new Washington law,” he said.
However, driving while under the influence of drugs remains a "high priority" for Portland police, he said.
Washington’s new recreational marijuana law includes a standard for impaired driving: 5 nanograms of active tetrahydrocannabinol per milligram of whole blood. In Oregon, there’s no similar threshold for marijuana impairment. Police in Oregon may arrest a driver if they believe the driver is “impaired to a perceptible degree.”
-- Noelle Crombi
