Section 314-55-020. Marijuana license qualifications and application process.

Each marijuana license application is unique and investigated individually. The WSLCB may inquire and request documents regarding all matters in connection with the marijuana license application. The application requirements for a marijuana license include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

(1) Per RCW 69.50.331, the WSLCB shall send a notice to cities and counties, and may send a notice to tribal governments or port authorities regarding the marijuana license application. The local authority has twenty days to respond with a recommendation to approve or an objection to the applicant, location, or both.

(2) Applicants for a new marijuana producer, processor, or retailer license and those who apply to change their location must display a sign provided by the WSLCB on the outside of the premises to be licensed notifying the public that the premises are subject to an application for a marijuana license. Posting notices must occur within seven days of submitting the location confirmation form for new licenses or the change of location application for existing licensees. The WSLCB may check for compliance with this requirement at its discretion. The sign must:

(a) Not be altered. The licensee must post the sign sent by the WSLCB without changing, adding, or subtracting from the text;

(b) Be conspicuously displayed on, or immediately adjacent to, the premises subject to the application and in the location that is most likely to be seen by the public;

(c) Be of a size sufficient to ensure that it will be readily seen by the public, at a minimum these signs must be eight and one-half by eleven inches;

(d) Be posted within seven business days of the date the notice is sent to the applicant by the WSLCB; and

(e) The notice must be posted for fourteen consecutive days.

(3) The WSLCB will use a priority system to determine the order that marijuana retailers are licensed.

(a) First priority is given to applicants who:

(i) Applied to the state liquor and cannabis board for a marijuana retail license prior to July 1, 2014. To meet this qualification, the applicant must provide the WSLCB a copy of the master business license from department of revenue business licensing service showing the applicant applied for a retail marijuana license prior to July 1, 2014;

(ii) Operated or were employed by a collective garden before January 1, 2013. To meet this qualification, the applicant must provide the WSLCB with a copy of the master business from department of revenue business licensing service showing the applicant owned a collective garden prior to January 1, 2013, or a pay stub or tax information indicating that the applicant was employed by a collective garden prior to January 1, 2013;

(iii) Have maintained a state business license and municipal business license, as applicable in the relevant jurisdiction. To meet this qualification, the applicant must provide the WSLCB a copy of the master business license from department of revenue business licensing service and copies of municipal business licenses from January 1, 2013, through the date of application; and

(iv) Have had a history of paying all applicable state taxes and fees. To meet this qualification, the applicant must provide the WSLCB evidence from the department of revenue, department of labor and industries, and the employment security department that the entity is up to date on all applicable state taxes since January 1, 2013, and that they have paid all applicable fees to the WSLCB for all businesses they are engaged in since January 1, 2013.

(b) Second priority is given to applicants who:

(i) Operated or were employed by a collective garden before January 1, 2013. To meet this qualification, the applicant must provide the WSLCB a copy of the master business license from department of revenue business licensing service showing the applicant owned a collective garden prior to January 1, 2013, or a pay stub or tax information indicating that the applicant was employed by a collective garden prior to January 1, 2013;

(ii) Have maintained a state business license and municipal business license, as applicable in the relevant jurisdiction. To meet this qualification, the applicant must provide the WSLCB a copy of the master business license from department of revenue business licensing service and copies of municipal business licenses from January 1, 2013, through the date of application; and

(iii) Have had a history of paying all applicable state taxes and fees. To meet this qualification, the applicant must provide the WSLCB evidence from the department of revenue, the department of labor and industries, and the employment security department that the entity is up to date on all applicable state taxes since January 1, 2013, and that they have paid all applicable fees to the WSLCB for all businesses they are engaged in since January 1, 2013, for all businesses they are engaged in since January 1, 2013.

(c) Third priority is given to all other applicants who do not meet the qualifications and experience identified for priority one or two.

(4) All marijuana retail applicants must meet the qualifications required by the WSLCB before they will be granted a license regardless of priority.

(5) The WSLCB will verify that the proposed business meets the minimum requirements for the type of marijuana license requested.

(6) The WSLCB will conduct an investigation of the applicants' criminal history and administrative violation history, per WAC 314-55-040 and 314-55-045.

(a) The criminal history background check will consist of completion of a personal/criminal history form provided by the WSLCB and submission of fingerprints to a vendor approved by the WSLCB. The applicant will be responsible for paying all fees required by the vendor for fingerprinting. These fingerprints will be submitted to the Washington state patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for comparison to their criminal records. The applicant will be responsible for paying all fees required by the Washington state patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(b) Financiers will also be subject to criminal history investigations equivalent to that of the license applicant. Financiers will also be responsible for paying all fees required for the criminal history check.

(7) The WSLCB will conduct a financial investigation in order to verify the source of funds used for the acquisition and startup of the business, the applicants' right to the real and personal property, and to verify the true party(ies) of interest.

(8) The WSLCB may require a demonstration by the applicant that they are familiar with marijuana laws and rules.

(9) The WSLCB may conduct a final inspection of the proposed licensed business, in order to determine if the applicant has complied with all the requirements of the license requested.

(10) Per RCW 69.50.331 (1)(c), all applicants applying for a marijuana license must have resided in the state of Washington for at least six months prior to application for a marijuana license. All partnerships, employee cooperatives, associations, nonprofit corporations, corporations and limited liability companies applying for a marijuana license must be formed in Washington. All members must also meet the six month residency requirement. Managers or agents who manage a licensee's place of business must also meet the six month residency requirement.

(11) Submission of an operating plan that demonstrates the applicant is qualified to hold the marijuana license applied for to the satisfaction of the WSLCB. The operating plan shall include the following elements in accordance with the applicable standards in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

(12) As part of the application process, each applicant must submit in a format supplied by the WSLCB an operating plan detailing the following as it pertains to the license type being sought. This operating plan must also include a floor plan or site plan drawn to scale which illustrates the entire operation being proposed. The operating plan must include the following information:

After obtaining a license, the license holder must notify the WSLCB in advance of any change in their operating plan. Prior approval is required before the change is implemented.

(13)(a) In order to aid the WSLCB in monitoring the industry as it develops, the WSLCB requests that all applicants and licensees seeking renewal provide the following information:

(b) Employees compensation and benefits data.

(i) Will the applicant/licensee provide a living wage (at least one hundred fifty percent of the state minimum wage) to eighty-five percent or more of its hourly employees?

(ii) Will the applicant/licensee provide health insurance to at least eighty-five percent of its hourly employees?

(iii) Will the applicant/licensee provide a defined benefit pension plan to at least eighty-five percent of its hourly employees?

(iv) Will the applicant/licensee provide five or more paid sick days annually to at least eighty-five percent of its hourly employees?

(v) Is there a signed labor peace agreement or collective bargaining agreement with a labor organization in place?

(14) Applicants applying for a marijuana license must be current in any tax obligations to the Washington state department of revenue and other state agencies, as an individual or as part of any entity in which they have an ownership interest. Applicants must sign an attestation that, under penalty of denial or loss of licensure, that representation is correct.

(15) The issuance or approval of a license shall not be construed as a license for, or an approval of, any violations of local rules or ordinances including, but not limited to: Building and fire codes, zoning ordinances, and business licensing requirements.

(16) Upon failure to respond to the WSLCB licensing and regulation division's requests for information and/or documentation within the timeline provided, the application may be administratively closed or denial of the application will be sought.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 69.50.342 and 69.50.345. WSR 16-11-110, § 314-55-020, filed 5/18/16, effective 6/18/16; WSR 15-11-107, § 314-55-020, filed 5/20/15, effective 6/20/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 69.50.325, 69.50.331, 69.50.342, 69.50.345. WSR 13-21-104, § 314-55-020, filed 10/21/13, effective 11/21/13.]

RCW 69.50.342 and 69.50.345. WSR 16-11-110, § 314-55-020, filed 5/18/16, effective 6/18/16; WSR 15-11-107, § 314-55-020, filed 5/20/15, effective 6/20/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 69.50.325, 69.50.331, 69.50.342, 69.50.345. WSR 13-21-104, § 314-55-020, filed 10/21/13, effective 11/21/13.

Rules

314-55-040,314-55-045,