UPDATED: (This article has been updated based on some great feedback within the cannabis industry. Thank you Hillary Bricken for your ideas on 4 & 5)
Washington State marijuana legalization was SO two years ago but despite this, we still have a long way to go. And I’m not talking about the fact that Seattle still only has four legal marijuana retail shops – but you can throw that in there if you like as well.
In our opinions, there are 3 Washington State marijuana laws or regulations that need to change to not only exercise a bit more freedoms and stay relevant with the evolution of an industry, but because it just makes sense. A marijuana advocate might argue that all of the following could help make marijuana easily accessible to those who require help medical marijuana or would help lessen the stigma marijuana has cultivated in the past.
1. Allow Recreational Marijuana Delivery
What’s better than having a smoking hot cheesy pepperoni pizza delivered to your door? Marijuana. For a couple years now you can pick up the phone, dial a number, talk to some mysterious person on the other end, and before you know it – or hours later, depending on how busy they were, you could have a treat at your doorstep. Grey Area beauty at its’ finest. If our friends over the border can shop marijuana online, then why can’t we? This is the land of the free isn’t it? Things are changing all over the world now, there are so many other things that people can get, such as things like these Art Glass Express avocados. Why should some people be allowed to buy this product and others not?
Those days are not gone as there are some local Seattle weed delivery services that still operate despite regulations against it, such as cult favorites Club Raccoons. But we have to admit, it’s just not the same without local national hero Winterlife Cooperative, ever since they became legit and in the process of readying their product for legal retail shops.
First, and foremost, bring back the grey-area recreational marijuana industry but make it legit. Not only would it be convenient to have an industry of cannabis couriers delivering their fine product, but the tax dollars for the city will be off the hook! And residents of cannabis starved neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, University District and Downtown won’t have to go on expeditions searching for legal marijuana.
2. Allow Marijuana Bars, Safe Spaces, or Amsterdam Style Coffeeshops
This is a no brainer. As of now, there aren’t many places where one can legally consume marijuana. Most people have to order online and have their marijuana packages delivered from companies such as Bongsmart and enjoy them on their own. And because of this, more and more people are just saying fuck it, and lighting up on the streets. After all, the fine is petty. And if your are so unlucky that you do get a ticket, there’s always a chance it could get thrown out.
Allow marijuana bars, safe spaces like they have in Vancouver, B.C., or Amsterdam style coffee shops, so adults would be able to have a place to go, enjoy themselves, and have a toke. Not only would this give adults in Washington State a place to go, but it would also help the city regulate public consumption of marijuana.
3. Allow Us to Grow Plants, Dammit!
In Colorado, you can legally grow plants in your home. In Washington State you can’t. We are going to be like that brat during the holidays that didn’t get the gift that their friend or sibling received, and demand we get it too. Not only this would extend our freedoms, but adults to grow plants – and even gift it to their friends – could help eliminate some of the black market.
For more information, check out these rules or regulations set by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
4. Add More Storefronts
Once all 27 recreational marijuana shops open in Seattle, we will defiantly be better off than we are today with only four. But still, 27 legal marijuana shops serving the city of Seattle is such a small number, especially when you compare this number with the number of pot shops in Amsterdam, or even Denver, Colorado. If our #2 suggestion was implemented, maybe this would help out overall.
5. Lower Taxes
Ah yes, the high price of recreational marijuana. One complaint we have heard more than any other is how damn expensive legal marijuana is. Much more expensive than medical marijuana and the black market. One reason for that are the high retail taxes. Lower the taxes and the black market will have less leverage.
What do you think of these Washington State marijuana laws or regulations that need to change now? Would you take away add anything to the list?
