There are only eight months left till Washington medical-marijuana businesses face the decision of either joining the state-sanctioned market or shutting down completely. Because of this, retailers are getting on the trend while manufacturers are concerned with being left behind in the market. The state Liquor and Cannabis Board stated that 962 applicants are currently looking for a retail license, but cannot decide just how many license they are going to hand out.
The answer to their question will be dependent upon a report from consultants currently exploring the market demand for cannabis. Because of this, applicants such as Tacoma Holistic Collective eagerly waiting to find out whether or not they are going to need to shut down or go on with strict regulations on their products.
“I don’t mind jumping through some more hoops on the back end,” said Kevin Heiderich, THC general manager. I’ve closed down three businesses from software to cannabis before, just trying to stick it out.”
Some businesses were not given the chance to apply because the most recent round of licensing is solely for retailers rather than for farmers who would turn crops into products to be inhaled or digested. At the moment, Washington has already licensed 775 producers and processors, but that was for recreational marijuana rather than medicinal. There is a large gray area between recreational and medical products, but some makers said that they did not apply because their products were meant for one use and not the other.
“The folks who are left were the people who made a conscious decision (that) they aren’t in this business for mass profits. They’re actually in this business to help folks,” Michelle Rowe, a Tacoma attorney representing cannabis businesses, stated. “They are being left out in the cold right now.”
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