Liquor Control Board holding public forums on new marijuana law implementation

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (LCB), which is responsible for implementing Initiative 502 and regulating recreational use of marijuana, has announced that they will hold six public comment periods around the state.

Voters approved I-502 with 56 percent of the vote in November's election. While it laid out some specific provisions – including legalizing possession of up to one ounce of marijuana as well as details of a state licensing scheme – many details were left up to the LCB to decide.

Now, they are seeking to hear from citizens on how to best fill in the gaps.

“This is an opportunity for the public to meet the Board and staff involved in implementation, learn about our role in implementation, and to provide testimony,” LCB Chair Sharon Foster said in a statement.

The first public hearing will be in Olympia on the evening of Tuesday, January 22. Here is the full list of statewide public hearings:

• Tuesday, January 22

WSLCB Headquarters, Conference Room 201
3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501

• Thursday, January 24

Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room
600 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

• Thursday, February 7

Clark College, Vancouver, Foster Auditorium
1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663

• Tuesday, February 12

Spokane City Hall, Council Chambers
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201

• Tuesday, February 19

Skagit Valley College, Mt. Vernon, Theater
2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273

• Thursday, February 21

Yakima City Hall, Council Chambers
129 North Second St, Yakima, WA 98901


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