buckaroo bonzai
Well-Known Member
Washington state just shifted marijuana market from big weed to ma and pa weed
Faced with the possibility of 11 million square feet of federally illegal plants, the Washington Liquor Control Board on Wednesday made a rule change that will have a dramatic effect on the states legal marijuana market.
The board cut all applications for producers down to one license per person or company and limited the licensees to 70 percent of what they would be licensed to grow.
Looks like Ma and Pa have a better shot at making a go at this.
Understandably, growers with investors and deeper pockets looking to get three licenses at 30,000 square feet of canopy each (the top of three tiers) were pretty upset. The new limits will drastically reduce what they can hope to grow; many had money tied up in the property and equipment required to grow that greater amount.
Now the big players are scaling down from a potential of 90,000 square feet of marijuana to roughly 21,000.
But not everyone is unhappy with the rule change. In fact, upon reflection, it becomes clear that the new rules make it far more likely that small growers ma and pa outfits like partners Christi Masi and Scott Masengill, married for 25 years will have a fighting chance against big weed.
I do feel like the state has done a good job of setting things up in a way that we will all have the opportunity to succeed at this, and I really appreciate that they have done this, said Masi.
Masi and Masengill are in the final stages of getting a license to grow at tier two, or up to 10,000 square feet, though once they get approved theyll only be able to shoot for 70 percent of that amount.
Here are the tiers:
Tier 1 less than 2000 square feet
Tier 2 2000 to 10,000 square feet
Tier 3 10,000 to 30,000 square feet
Related story: Board reduces amount of marijuana each business can grow
Lets assume that everyone could grow unlimited, said Masengill. The price would go so low that even the big investors wouldnt be able to make money at it. Either way, the market would have to correct itself and this is just an intervention at the administrative level instead of at the market level.
Masi added:
I really appreciate that they are kind of protecting the small ma and pop, which we totally are, thats part of this whole opportunity that I have fallen in love with. The state has decided that the small guy gets a chance here, and that feels good. And that to me has been a big motivator in taking some of the plunges.
And plunge they did. The Seattle duo bought land to grow outdoors in Eastern Washington with money that came out of their potential retirement though, with business backgrounds, theyve done their homework and limited the risk of outright poverty should it all go south.
Were limiting our investment, Masi said, with what appeared to be the couples characteristic aplomb and humor. We put a cap on it and said we have to be able to do it for this amount of money. But the risk continues.
Nevertheless, they are risk takers, she said, and it has been and continues to be an exciting journey. Plus, theres the experience of hearing from more and more people they hadnt suspected of being marijuana consumers but who are, and have been for decades.
Now they, like state officials and all the architects of I-502, are looking forward to seeing those people leave the grey and black markets to a working, attractive I-502 market.
We want all of our neighbors to stop growing their own because its going to be so convenient to go to the local retail store, Masi said.
And yet, the bureaucracy needs to get this done.
Were sun growers, Masengill said, and spring is going to be starting really soon. And we need to get our plants in the ground.
Answered: Can you legally have marijuana on a Washington ski slope?
Marijuana and mountains have become a weary mix for ski resorts in Colorado and soon in Washington as legal sales of recreational marijuana get going. Possession of up to an ounce is already legal for anyone over 21 years old.
Ski resorts are worried that tourists visiting for legalized cannabis will have the misconception that they will be allowed to spark up on the slopes. In both Colorado and Washington, ski resorts follow federal laws because they operate on Forest Service land.
Some ski resorts are distributing handouts to inform skiers and snowboarders that the resorts are on federal land where all marijuana is illegal, just as in the rest of the country.
We have a policy against smoking cigarettes anyways, so it hasnt been an issue, said Crystal Mountain ski patrol Paul Baugher. Occasionally, wed see some kids crowding in a circle by the gondola cabin and itd be obvious that theyre smoking some stuff.
However, Baugher said its not the ski patrols responsibility nor part of their training regime to bust skiers for possession of marijuana. The only time they consider marijuana use to be a major issue and take any action such as making people leave the mountain is when they hear complaints from other skiers.
Also, in Colorado, it has been illegal to ski, board or even hop on a ski lift under the influence.
1. - Who will be able to buy it? Anyone who can prove they are 21 or older and you dont have to be a resident of Washington. So, expect pot tourists to be a part of the new scene. In Colorado: Anyone 21 and older.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2014/02/20/washington-state-just-shifted-marijuana-market-from-big-weed-to-ma-and-pa-weed/#14194103=0&20340101=0
Interesting blog quote here---
Damien Yuen
This was planned all along. They wanted the sheep to legalize without understanding what that actually meant. And then the government would come in and ban collectives and personal grows and give it all to big pharma. I said this would happen and was laughed at and criticized. Well Now its happening. I vote no to legalize in California. All we need is decriminalized and the people will sort things out ourselves. This is what happens when you trust government to ever go with the will of the people. Stop trusting those who have given no reason to trust!
5 · February 18 at 8:01pm ·
Damien Yuen
Outrageous prices like in Colorado and bans in Washington state is what awaits those who vote to legalize in other states. All the democrats see are more tax revenue. They don't support the cannabis movement and they never will. They just want the money. At least Republicans are honest about not liking anything about cannabis. Democrats feel the same way they just won't say it because most cannabis users are base voters for the Democrats and they can't loose those votes. All games!
4 · February 18 at 7:59pm
View 9 more comments
https://www.facebook.com/TheEmeraldCup
Faced with the possibility of 11 million square feet of federally illegal plants, the Washington Liquor Control Board on Wednesday made a rule change that will have a dramatic effect on the states legal marijuana market.
The board cut all applications for producers down to one license per person or company and limited the licensees to 70 percent of what they would be licensed to grow.
Looks like Ma and Pa have a better shot at making a go at this.
Understandably, growers with investors and deeper pockets looking to get three licenses at 30,000 square feet of canopy each (the top of three tiers) were pretty upset. The new limits will drastically reduce what they can hope to grow; many had money tied up in the property and equipment required to grow that greater amount.
Now the big players are scaling down from a potential of 90,000 square feet of marijuana to roughly 21,000.
But not everyone is unhappy with the rule change. In fact, upon reflection, it becomes clear that the new rules make it far more likely that small growers ma and pa outfits like partners Christi Masi and Scott Masengill, married for 25 years will have a fighting chance against big weed.
I do feel like the state has done a good job of setting things up in a way that we will all have the opportunity to succeed at this, and I really appreciate that they have done this, said Masi.
Masi and Masengill are in the final stages of getting a license to grow at tier two, or up to 10,000 square feet, though once they get approved theyll only be able to shoot for 70 percent of that amount.
Here are the tiers:
Tier 1 less than 2000 square feet
Tier 2 2000 to 10,000 square feet
Tier 3 10,000 to 30,000 square feet
Related story: Board reduces amount of marijuana each business can grow
Lets assume that everyone could grow unlimited, said Masengill. The price would go so low that even the big investors wouldnt be able to make money at it. Either way, the market would have to correct itself and this is just an intervention at the administrative level instead of at the market level.
Masi added:
I really appreciate that they are kind of protecting the small ma and pop, which we totally are, thats part of this whole opportunity that I have fallen in love with. The state has decided that the small guy gets a chance here, and that feels good. And that to me has been a big motivator in taking some of the plunges.
And plunge they did. The Seattle duo bought land to grow outdoors in Eastern Washington with money that came out of their potential retirement though, with business backgrounds, theyve done their homework and limited the risk of outright poverty should it all go south.
Were limiting our investment, Masi said, with what appeared to be the couples characteristic aplomb and humor. We put a cap on it and said we have to be able to do it for this amount of money. But the risk continues.
Nevertheless, they are risk takers, she said, and it has been and continues to be an exciting journey. Plus, theres the experience of hearing from more and more people they hadnt suspected of being marijuana consumers but who are, and have been for decades.
Now they, like state officials and all the architects of I-502, are looking forward to seeing those people leave the grey and black markets to a working, attractive I-502 market.
We want all of our neighbors to stop growing their own because its going to be so convenient to go to the local retail store, Masi said.
And yet, the bureaucracy needs to get this done.
Were sun growers, Masengill said, and spring is going to be starting really soon. And we need to get our plants in the ground.
Answered: Can you legally have marijuana on a Washington ski slope?
Marijuana and mountains have become a weary mix for ski resorts in Colorado and soon in Washington as legal sales of recreational marijuana get going. Possession of up to an ounce is already legal for anyone over 21 years old.
Ski resorts are worried that tourists visiting for legalized cannabis will have the misconception that they will be allowed to spark up on the slopes. In both Colorado and Washington, ski resorts follow federal laws because they operate on Forest Service land.
Some ski resorts are distributing handouts to inform skiers and snowboarders that the resorts are on federal land where all marijuana is illegal, just as in the rest of the country.
We have a policy against smoking cigarettes anyways, so it hasnt been an issue, said Crystal Mountain ski patrol Paul Baugher. Occasionally, wed see some kids crowding in a circle by the gondola cabin and itd be obvious that theyre smoking some stuff.
However, Baugher said its not the ski patrols responsibility nor part of their training regime to bust skiers for possession of marijuana. The only time they consider marijuana use to be a major issue and take any action such as making people leave the mountain is when they hear complaints from other skiers.
Also, in Colorado, it has been illegal to ski, board or even hop on a ski lift under the influence.
1. - Who will be able to buy it? Anyone who can prove they are 21 or older and you dont have to be a resident of Washington. So, expect pot tourists to be a part of the new scene. In Colorado: Anyone 21 and older.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2014/02/20/washington-state-just-shifted-marijuana-market-from-big-weed-to-ma-and-pa-weed/#14194103=0&20340101=0
Interesting blog quote here---
Damien Yuen
This was planned all along. They wanted the sheep to legalize without understanding what that actually meant. And then the government would come in and ban collectives and personal grows and give it all to big pharma. I said this would happen and was laughed at and criticized. Well Now its happening. I vote no to legalize in California. All we need is decriminalized and the people will sort things out ourselves. This is what happens when you trust government to ever go with the will of the people. Stop trusting those who have given no reason to trust!
5 · February 18 at 8:01pm ·
Damien Yuen
Outrageous prices like in Colorado and bans in Washington state is what awaits those who vote to legalize in other states. All the democrats see are more tax revenue. They don't support the cannabis movement and they never will. They just want the money. At least Republicans are honest about not liking anything about cannabis. Democrats feel the same way they just won't say it because most cannabis users are base voters for the Democrats and they can't loose those votes. All games!
4 · February 18 at 7:59pm
View 9 more comments
https://www.facebook.com/TheEmeraldCup
