One Marijuana Shop Proposed for Mercer Island, Says Liquor Control Board

Mercer Island could get one marijuana store within the city limits, according to the newest Initiative 502 rules proposed by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

The initiative legalized marijuana in Washington state, and passed last November with more than 55 percent of the vote.

According to the proposed state rules, a maximum of 334 retail stores will be allowed state, and store locations were allocated based on population in the 2010 Census and "consumption data."

Also crucial for Mercer Island was a ruling by the WLCB on how the the 1,000 foot buffer is measured from schools, parks and other gathering places of children and underage minors. City officials had previously asserted that current zoning prevented the operation of a retail marijuana establishment, due to the Island's two business district's proximity to schools and parks.   

A change in measuring the distance altered the measurement from as the "crow flies" to “along the most direct route over or across established public walks, streets, or other public passageway between the proposed building/business locations to the perimeter of the grounds of the entities listed.”

"The city is studying the new measurement protocol, but until we learn something different we'll go with our previous determination (that no permitted retail sites exist on Mercer Island)," said Ross Freeman, City of Mercer Island spokesperson.

Under the proposal, Mercer Island would get one marijuana store for its 22,699 residents, according to the 2010 US Census -- a slightly smaller ratio as Seattle, which would have 21 stores for its 608,660 residents. Some cities would have a higher shop-to-resident rate, such as Pullman, which would get three marijuana stores for its 30,000 residents. Even counties as small as Wahkiakum and Columbia, which each have about 4,000 residents total, would get at least one shop within the county limits.

The board would allow 61 marijuana stores in King County total. You can check out the list of retail store locations on the Washington State Liquor Control Board website.

Other proposed rules include:

• Any company or business owner can hold up to three marijuana retail licenses. Multiple-location licensees not allowed to hold more than 33 percent of the allowed licenses in any county or city. 
• $1,000 criminal penalty for sales to a minor.
• Separate tiers of grow operations.
• Marijuana operations will not be allowed within 1,000 feet of elementary or secondary schools, playgrounds, recreation centers or facilities, child care centers, public parks, public transit centers, libraries, or game arcade where admission is not restricted to persons twenty-one years of age or older.
• Sniff jars with sealed, screened-top lids allowed, but there will be no handling of the product behind the counter.
• There will be quality assurance testing on the products sold.