By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Who knew Lewis County harbored so many entrepreneurial spirits ready to take a chance on the newly legalized cash crop of cannabis.
The list of those seeking licenses from the state to grow recreational marijuana locally ballooned to more than 40 on Friday, the end of a month-long period for applications.
The state-regulated industry based on the passage of last year’s Initiative 502 contains three types of licenses. One for producers who will cultivate the plants. Another for processors who will prepare it for resale with packaging and may create marijuana-infused products like so-called “edibles”. And a third for retailers.
In Lewis County, just four entities have made requests for a retail license to sell to the public.
But the list of applicants to become processors or producers is long.
Having all three licenses is not permitted under I-502, but a licensee may hold both a producer and a processor license simultaneously. A number of individuals appear to be attempting to go that direction, according to the cumulative list released today by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
The WSLCB is the agency responsible for issuing the approvals.
While there is a cap on the number of retail licenses that will be given out – seven in Lewis County – the agency says there is no limit on the number of producer and processor licenses it will hand out. To those who are approved.
Information for applicants from the WSLCB says if one’s application is approved, they will receive an electronic billing statement requesting payment of the $1,000 fee.
Reasons for denial are many, for example, among them, failure to meet basic requirements, objection from the local authority, indicators of hidden ownership or based on a persons’s criminal history.
Last week, a spokesperson for the board said they expect it could take them 60 to 90 days to begin issuing the licenses, similar to the wait for liquor licenses.
Some locations on the list have applied for multiple licenses to produce or process. Leading them is 208 Maurin Road, in the Chehalis Industrial Park.
Sixteen entities including those with names such as Emerald Joy and Evergreen Trees are seeking to grow and process marijuana at that location. Some have identified “suites” in their addresses, other have not.
Who are they? Who is their landlord in the large warehouse? And what does the Port of Chehalis think of such neighbors? And, is that property subject to local business licensing from the city, or the county, is it part of an urban growth area with mixed rules?
None of those are questions that could be answered after noon time on Christmas Eve Day. More to come later.
Either way, business is not expected to get underway anytime soon.
Moratoriums are in place regarding such activity in the cities of Chehalis and in unincorporated areas of the county.
Even once they are lifted, Lewis County leaders have already decided to require applicants to provide approval from the U.S. Attorney General or the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
WSLCB spokesperson Mikhail Carpenter has said the agency is aware of the county’s rule, which “for all intents and purposes, is a ban.” And I-502 did not include a provision for cities and counties to opt out, he said.
The agency has asked the state attorney general to offer guidance on the issue, which will more than likely have to be settled in court, amongst interested parties, according to Carpenter.
Meanwhile, below are the applicants who show their address as 208 Maurin Road, Chehalis:
• Alfhild Venutures
• Emerald Joy
• Evergreen Trees LLC
• Gen 3 Growers LLC
• Gig Gardens
• Ground Up Cultivation,
• Holland’s Hope
• MNO
• NXTLVL
• Carrina’s Herbs of Grace, STE A
• Grandma’s Garden, LLC, STE B
• Thomas Tew Tolling, STE B
• Stortebeker Ventures, STE C
• Knivet Enterprises, STE D
• Granuaile Industries, STE E
• Sturdivant Ventures, STE F
To view the entire list of applicants statewide, click Washington State Liquor Control Board’s Frequently Requested Lists, scroll down and find “Marijuana License Applicants, updated Dec. 24, 2013”
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For further information, check Washington State Liquor Control Board’s Marijuana License Approval or Denial, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Free Air. I was using the term “fascist” in its’ modern form. Wikipedia defines fascist in the way I intended as “generally referred to conservative positions which prioritized the maintenance of existing social relations over various personal rights upheld by protesters and dissidents.” To be clear I am not suggesting our Shehrriff and County leaders are equal to or attempting to emulate the leadership in Spain, Italy and Germany in the 1930’s.
My issue remains with the leadership of the county picking and choosing what laws it likes.
Is the current law of our State in conflict with a Federal Law? Yes. Along with twenty or so other states who have allowed cannabis to be used medically. This issue will and should be settled by the Washington State Supreme Court here and ultimately the United States Supreme Court.
As far as protecting a drug free society in Lewis County I am afraid we lost that battle many generations ago. A simple study of this website shows that alcohol, heroin and meth are simply loved by our fellow citizens. Don’t cloud the real issue of Lewis County leaders selective adherance to State law with platitudes and misinformation about the county and its relationship with drugs both legal and not.
ever hear of the “UNITED” states? yes because we are free to make our own laws apart from the federal. The civil war was fought because of states rights to govern themselves.
Free Air you are nothing but a sheep. A champion of liberalism and facism shame on you because call yourself american. Worse yet a citizen of lewis county.
Border patrol agents and police get caught selling and or aiding passage of drugs in this country everyday. Selective enforcement is another tool they like use aswell. Pfttt that ‘drug free america’ bullshit is just a insurance policy for the dea. The more drugs get in the country more arrests they make. The amount of drugs coming in to the country only increases every year. More officers and more money to fight the problem does little to curb the statistics. Only creates a society where we have less freedoms to enjoy everyday life without police harassment.
I don’t think that the desire to protect and encourage a drug free society here in Lewis County, not to mention not violating Federal Drug Laws, can be equated to somehow supporting a Fascist form of Government.
You need a few more dots to get that line to connect.
I wonder how much our elected leaders will cost us (the ones who pay taxes) defending their choice to ban a legal business from starting up in the county? I am confused because I remember when Republicans were all about capitalism and small government and not limiting the free market. I get that not every one is a fan of cannabis but I hoped that even in Lewis County we would still like freedom and oppose fascism.
sumthin2say says:
“We long knew police and govt corruption was the nail holding the lucretive pot black market to the wall in our country.”
That has to be the most delusional statement I’ve read in months. Thanks for adding another “well now I’ve read it all” moment for us.
I’ll wager a friendly “I told you so” against a likewise friendly “See how wrong you were” on this neighborhood drug market stuff. By the time 5 years have passed, this like alcohol will end up costing the State much more in damages to society than any tax revenue brought in. The only possible “win” I see here for the State is that the more people floating around in a green cloud, the less people paying attention to how bad off our State finances and local job markets really are.
We live in a fascist nation. Police state,… much like north korea but with food stamps. 3 times the tax? 30% at each phase (growing, processing, retail) Sounds like they are going to have gobs of money to regulate and fine anyone who is out of regulation. When you grow with that much taxation its akin to the govt being a 50-50 business partner. We long knew police and govt corruption was the nail holding the lucretive pot black market to the wall in our country. Now we have proof and they have tax dollars to pad their retirement. The next pot law should be to cut the govt out completely.
Well, you know what they say. “In business, Timing is Everything”.
Your timing just sucked.
What a joke I opened up a store on Tower Ave and it was raided for what now is legal. Washington State is now our local drug dealer. I received a felony conviction for the same activitys that are now legal. Thousands of years in prison time has been handed out to honest cannabis users and now the shit is legal, what a crock of shit. It makes me sick to see this happening now. In 1937 the United States made a propaganda film called Refer Madness, the US claimed Cannabis caused black men to rape white woman. Let us never forget that the Government is full of lies. We the people need to form a lynch mob and bum rush the White House, the time is now to take our country back from the criminals in charge. Over a hundred thousand dollars of tax payer money was wasted on me during the investigation of Hub City Natural Medicine, for what is now legal. If we the people would just ban together the criminals in charge would run like little girls. Remember Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism.
Your concern probably needn’t be with the number of retail stores applied for (there are just four of those in the county) but with the grow op applicants. There will only so many licensed businesses they can supply…what would they do with their “overstock?” Then again, only so many of THOSE licenses will be granted and I’m guessing/hoping the state will do a thorough job vetting these people.
The people I know that are long time pot smokers either grow their own (and have for 25+ years) or get it from other friends that grow it. I’m assuming that goes for a lot of long time smokers. So if the long term smokers already have pot, who is going to buy from all of the new businesses-kids? I was all for legalizing pot, but the amount of people applying to open stores makes me think differently now.
an applicant named (NXTLVL) is that gang related? Dont they try to weed out applicants like this (no pun intended)