With Washington state improving its medical pot law, Ed Murray Mayor of Seattle states the city is preparing to shutter many marijuana shops.
This past Tuesday Murray released details about plans to require a new special business license for cannabis establishments, akin to those required for taxi drivers and pawn shops. Under the ambitious goal set by the Mayor, the business will be required to have the licenses by July 2016.
However just as Washington’s new medical cannabis law offers priority in licensing to marijuana shops that were in business before Jan. 1 2013, so does Murray’s proposal. Seattle officials stated that by their count, 54 of the city’s 99 dispensary storefronts became operational after that date or have been up and running without a city business license.
The Mayor’s office stated those businesses will not be obtaining the special license and need to close shop. The rest will be allowed to remain open with enough time to see if they end up being permitted by the state.
“It is time to ensure that everyone plays by the same rules,” Murray said. “We’re strengthening the recreational marijuana market and creating safer, more consistent access for those who rely on medicinal products.”
“The city has struggled to differentiate between the good players and the bad players,” stated John Davis of Northwest Patient Resource Center.
Davis s an industry leader who pays uncle sam, and does not sell to people under age or individuals who just want to get high
“This will give me a path to licensing. I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve always followed the rules and I’ve always wanted to be recognized by the system,” Davis said.
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