seattle Archives - TheJointBlog

Seattle City Council Unanimously Loosens Restriction on Cannabis Businesses

January 12, 2016January 12, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

In a unanimous Monday vote, Seattle’s City Council gave approval to a proposal that drastically shrinks the buffer zones that separate legal cannabis businesses from locations such as public parks and schools.

Under current state law, the buffer zone between cannabis businesses and public locations such as parks is set at 1,000 feet; however, the state’s legislature last year passed a bill allowing cities to lower this to 100 feet. Seattle’s Council voted to lower the number to 250 feet in downtown Seattle, and 500 feet elsewhere.

Firms File Multiple Complaints Against Seattle Mayor to Protect Cannabis Patient’s Rights

September 30, 2015September 29, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Four attorneys representing three different law firms have filed suit to stop Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s crackdown on patients and purveyors in medical cannabis. They will be holding a joint press conference on September 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm at 119 1st Ave S Suite 260, Seattle, WA 98104.

Mayor Murray recently forced an Ordinance through the city council. Nick Lacata, who is not seeking reelection, introduced the Ordinance; the brain child of David Mendoza, the mayor’s cannabis czar. The Ordinance is the Mayor’s attempt to shutter at least 58 businesses within a month, without regard to patient access, or dispensary owners’ ability to properly conclude their business affairs.

Seattle Hempfest 2015 is Less than Two Weeks Away

August 3, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Seattle Hempfest, one of the world’s most attended free speech events, is less than two weeks away. This year’s event takes place on August 14th, 15th and 16th, starting at noon on the 14th and 10am on the 15th and 16th; it ends at 8pm on all three days.

Seattle Hempfest – often referred to as a protestival (part protest, part festival) – takes place across three downtown Waterfront parks, and features over 400 arts, crafts, food, and informational vendors. The event also includes six stages of speakers and music, which in the past has included celebrities such as Woody Harrelson, political leaders such as Seattle’s mayor and city attorney, and a plethora of bands from a wide variety of musical genres. A full list of this year’s lineup can be found by clicking here.

Seattle: 90% of Tickets for Public Cannabis Consumption Given to Men

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

A new study released by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) has found that tickets distributed for the public consumption of cannabis have overwhelmingly gone to men, and disproportionately to minorities.

The study found that men received roughly 90% of the 85 tickets distributed between July 1st, 2014, through the end of the year. The study also found that 90% of the tickets were distributed by SPD’s West Precinct.

Seattle City Council Unanimously Passes Measure to Shutdown Most Dispensaries

July 14, 2015July 14, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

A proposal to shutdown over half of the medical cannabis dispensaries located in Seattle has been unanimously approved by the city’s council. The measure, which was put forth by Mayor Ed Murray, will go into effect 30 days after he signs it.

Under the new law, any medical cannabis dispensary that opened after January 1st, 2013, and those who are distributing medicine to those under 21 (which was made illegal with the recent passage of Senate Bill 5052), will be forced to close their doors by July of next year, without the possibility of receiving a license to continue operating. It’s expected that 59 of the city’s 99 dispensaries will be forced to close.

Seattle: City to Introduce Plan for Shutting Down Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

May 18, 2015May 17, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Seattle city officials held a private meeting recently where they presented a tentative resolution that will soon be presented to the City Council that would separate medical cannabis establishments into tiers, with the goal of shutting many down in the coming months.

Under this proposal – which is designed in response to the passage of Senate Bill 5052 – the first tier would include those distributing medical cannabis to patients under 21 (which is now illegal), and those with a business license obtained after January 1st, 2013. The second tier would consist of outlets that have delivery services, and those that allow medical cannabis consumption on-site. The third tier would consist of outlets that distribute cannabis that has not undergone microbial or potency testing, and those located within 500 feet of another licensed or unlicensed cannabis establishment, playground, public recreation center or a park, or within 1,000 feet of a school.

Seattle Issues Hundreds of Cease and Desist Letters to Dispensaries Ordering Them to Shut Down

October 24, 2014October 23, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

The City of Seattle has issued over 300 cease and desist letters to dispensaries throughout the city, ordering them to shut down by July 1st, 2015, unless they can obtain a license from the Washington State Liquor Control Board, despite no such license existing for medical cannabis facilities.

On Thursday last week, the city sent out letters to all businesses deemed to be engaged in “major marijuana activity”, defined as any activity involving 45 or more plants, or more than 72 ounces of cannabis. The letter reads as follows:

Seattle’s Second Recreational Cannabis Retail Outlet Plans to Open Tuesday

September 26, 2014September 26, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

Uncle Ike’s will become Seattle’s second recreational cannabis retail outlet on Tuesday when it opens at 2310 East Union Street. According to owner Ian Eisenberg, he received a license to open the shop from the state’s Liquor Control Board earlier this week, and says they should be ready to sell cannabis to anyone 21 and older come Tuesday.

Uncle Ike’s will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 7PM, and will be closed on Mondays. Some of the strains they plan to carry on opening day includes Lemon Kush, Snoop’s Dream and Pineberry.

Seattle City Attorney Seeks Dismissal of All Tickets for Public Cannabis Consumption Between January and July

September 22, 2014September 21, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes is seeking the dismissal of all tickets distributed in the city for the public consumption of cannabis between January 1st and July 31st of this year, after it was found that more than 80% of the tickets were given by one officer who calls the state’s legalization of cannabis “silly”.

“In order to treat everyone equally during this time period, the City Attorney’s Office will request that all infractions issued between January 1 and July 30, 2014, be dismissed with prejudice,” Holmes will say in a presentation to the Seattle City Council on Monday, according to Q13 Fox.

Seattle Police Chief Calls for Dismissal of Cannabis Tickets

September 13, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole has called for the dismissal of dozens of tickets for consuming cannabis in public given by an officer who was found to have distributed over 80% of the tickets in the city in the first 7 months of the year. The announcement came from Sergeant Sean Whitcomb, spokesman for the Seattle Police Department.