Beginning on page 7, line 28, strike all of section 7 and insert the following:
Sec. 7. "RCW
69.50.331 and 2017 c 317 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) For the purpose of considering any application for a license to produce, process, research, transport, or deliver marijuana, useable marijuana, marijuana concentrates, or marijuana-infused products subject to the regulations established under RCW
69.50.385, or sell marijuana, or for the renewal of a license to produce, process, research, transport, or deliver marijuana, useable marijuana, marijuana concentrates, or marijuana-infused products subject to the regulations established under RCW
69.50.385, or sell marijuana, the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board must conduct a comprehensive, fair, and impartial evaluation of the applications timely received.
(a) The ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board may cause an inspection of the premises to be made, and may inquire into all matters in connection with the construction and operation of the premises. For the purpose of reviewing any application for a license and for considering the denial, suspension, revocation,
cancellation, or renewal or denial thereof, of any license, the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board may consider any
prior administrative violation history record with the board or prior criminal ((
conduct))
arrests or convictions of the applicant ((
including an administrative violation history record with the state liquor and cannabis board)) and a criminal history record information check. The ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board may submit the criminal history record information check to the Washington state patrol and to the identification division of the federal bureau of investigation in order that these agencies may search their records for prior arrests and convictions of the individual or individuals who filled out the forms. The ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board must require fingerprinting of any applicant whose criminal history record information check is submitted to the federal bureau of investigation. The provisions of RCW
9.95.240 and of chapter
9.96A RCW do not apply to these cases. Subject to the provisions of this section, the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board may, in its discretion, grant or deny the renewal or license applied for. Denial may be based on, without limitation, the existence of chronic illegal activity documented in objections submitted pursuant to subsections (7)(c) and (10) of this section. Authority to approve an uncontested or unopposed license may be granted by the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board to any staff member the board designates in writing. Conditions for granting this authority must be adopted by rule.
(b) No license of any kind may be issued to:
(i) A person under the age of twenty-one years;
(ii) A person doing business as a sole proprietor who has not lawfully resided in the state for at least six months prior to applying to receive a license;
(iii) A partnership, employee cooperative, association, nonprofit corporation, or corporation unless formed under the laws of this state, and unless all of the members thereof are qualified to obtain a license as provided in this section; or
(iv) A person whose place of business is conducted by a manager or agent, unless the manager or agent possesses the same qualifications required of the licensee.
(2)(a) The ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board may, in its discretion, subject to ((
the provisions of))
sections 2 and 3 of this act, RCW
69.50.334,
and 69.50.342(3) suspend or cancel any license; and all protections of the licensee from criminal or civil sanctions under state law for producing, processing, researching, or selling marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products thereunder must be suspended or terminated, as the case may be.
(b) The ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board must immediately suspend the license of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW
74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order. If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for reinstatement during the suspension, reissuance of the license is automatic upon the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board's receipt of a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the licensee is in compliance with the order.
(c) The ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board may request the appointment of administrative law judges under chapter
34.12 RCW who shall have power to administer oaths, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony, examine witnesses, ((
and to)) receive testimony in any inquiry, investigation, hearing, or proceeding in any part of the state,
and consider mitigating and aggravating circumstances in any case and deviate from any prescribed penalty, under rules ((
and regulations)) the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board may adopt.
(d) Witnesses must be allowed fees and mileage each way to and from any inquiry, investigation, hearing, or proceeding at the rate authorized by RCW
34.05.446. Fees need not be paid in advance of appearance of witnesses to testify or to produce books, records, or other legal evidence.
(e) In case of disobedience of any person to comply with the order of the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board or a subpoena issued by the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board, or any of its members, or administrative law judges, or on the refusal of a witness to testify to any matter regarding which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, the judge of the superior court of the county in which the person resides, on application of any member of the board or administrative law judge, compels obedience by contempt proceedings, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from said court or a refusal to testify therein.
(3) Upon receipt of notice of the suspension or cancellation of a license, the licensee must forthwith deliver up the license to the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board. Where the license has been suspended only, the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board must return the license to the licensee at the expiration or termination of the period of suspension. The ((state liquor and cannabis)) board must notify all other licensees in the county where the subject licensee has its premises of the suspension or cancellation of the license; and no other licensee or employee of another licensee may allow or cause any marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products to be delivered to or for any person at the premises of the subject licensee.
(4) Every license issued under this chapter is subject to all conditions and restrictions imposed by this chapter or by rules adopted by the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board to implement and enforce this chapter. All conditions and restrictions imposed by the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board in the issuance of an individual license must be listed on the face of the individual license along with the trade name, address, and expiration date.
(5) Every licensee must post and keep posted its license, or licenses, in a conspicuous place on the premises.
(6) No licensee may employ any person under the age of twenty-one years.
(7)(a) Before the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board issues a new or renewed license to an applicant or authorizes a licensee's application for a change of location, it must give notice of the application to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town, if the application is for a license within an incorporated city or town, or to the county legislative authority, if the application is for a license outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns, or to the tribal government if the application is for a license within Indian country, or to the port authority if the application for a license is located on property owned by a port authority.
(b) The incorporated city or town through the official or employee selected by it, the county legislative authority or the official or employee selected by it, the tribal government, or port authority has the right to file with the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board within twenty days after the date of transmittal of the notice for original license applications, or at least thirty days prior to the expiration date for renewals, or forty-five days from the notice of an application for a change of location, written objections against the applicant or against the premises for which the new or renewed license, or application for a change of location, is asked. The ((state liquor and cannabis)) board may extend the time period for submitting written objections upon request from the authority notified by the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board.
(c)
(i) The written objections must include a statement of all facts upon which the objections are based, and in case written objections are filed, the city or town or county legislative authority may request, and the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board ((
may in its discretion))
must hold, a hearing subject to the applicable provisions of Title
34 RCW.
(ii) If the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board makes an initial decision to deny a license ((
or))
, renewal
, or change of location based on the written objections of an incorporated city or town or county legislative authority, the applicant
or licensee may request a hearing subject to the applicable provisions of Title
34 RCW. If a hearing is held at the request of the applicant
or licensee, ((
state liquor and cannabis))
the objecting local government may appear and present their objections, and the board representatives must present and defend the ((
state liquor and cannabis)) board's initial decision to deny a license ((
or))
, renewal
, or application for a change of location.
(d) Upon the granting of a license under this title the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board must send written notification to the chief executive officer of the incorporated city or town in which the license is granted, or to the county legislative authority if the license is granted outside the boundaries of incorporated cities or towns.
(8)(a) Except as provided in (b) through (d) of this subsection, the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board may not issue a license for any premises within one thousand feet of the perimeter of the grounds of any elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, public park, public transit center, or library, or any game arcade admission to which is not restricted to persons aged twenty-one years or older.
(b) A city, county, or town may permit the licensing of premises within one thousand feet but not less than one hundred feet of the facilities described in (a) of this subsection, except elementary schools, secondary schools, and playgrounds, by enacting an ordinance authorizing such distance reduction, provided that such distance reduction will not negatively impact the jurisdiction's civil regulatory enforcement, criminal law enforcement interests, public safety, or public health.
(c) A city, county, or town may permit the licensing of research premises allowed under RCW
69.50.372 within one thousand feet but not less than one hundred feet of the facilities described in (a) of this subsection by enacting an ordinance authorizing such distance reduction, provided that the ordinance will not negatively impact the jurisdiction's civil regulatory enforcement, criminal law enforcement, public safety, or public health.
(d) The ((state liquor and cannabis)) board may license premises located in compliance with the distance requirements set in an ordinance adopted under (b) or (c) of this subsection. Before issuing or renewing a research license for premises within one thousand feet but not less than one hundred feet of an elementary school, secondary school, or playground in compliance with an ordinance passed pursuant to (c) of this subsection, the board must ensure that the facility:
(i) Meets a security standard exceeding that which applies to marijuana producer, processor, or retailer licensees;
(ii) Is inaccessible to the public and no part of the operation of the facility is in view of the general public; and
(iii) Bears no advertising or signage indicating that it is a marijuana research facility.
(e) The ((state liquor and cannabis)) board may not issue a license for any premises within Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151, including any fee patent lands within the exterior boundaries of a reservation, without the consent of the federally recognized tribe associated with the reservation or Indian country.
(9) A city, town, or county may adopt an ordinance prohibiting a marijuana producer or marijuana processor from operating or locating a business within areas zoned primarily for residential use or rural use with a minimum lot size of five acres or smaller.
(10) In determining whether to grant or deny a license or renewal of any license, or deny an application for a change in location, the ((state liquor and cannabis)) board must give substantial weight to objections from an incorporated city or town or county legislative authority based upon:
(a) The number of existing license retail outlets within five miles of the proposed location;
(b) Chronic illegal activity associated with the applicant's operations of the premises proposed to be licensed or the applicant's operation of any other licensed premises, or the conduct of the applicant's patrons inside or outside the licensed premises; and
(c) Concerns expressed by law enforcement about the potential sale of products that could be transported out-of-state.
(11) For the purposes of subsection (10) of this section, "
chronic illegal activity" means (a) a ((
pervasive)) pattern of activity that threatens the public health, safety, and welfare of the city, town, or county including, but not limited to,
diversion of marijuana or marijuana products out of the state, open container violations, assaults, disturbances, disorderly conduct, or other criminal law violations, or as documented in crime statistics, police reports, emergency medical response data, calls for service, field data, or similar records of a law enforcement agency for the city, town, county, or any other municipal corporation or any state agency
or any law enforcement agency of another state; or (b) an unreasonably high number of citations for violations of RCW
46.61.502, 46.61.504, or 46.61.5249 associated with the applicant's or licensee's operation of any licensed premises as indicated by the reported statements given to law enforcement upon arrest.
Sec. 8. RCW
69.50.580 and 2015 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 801 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Applicants for a marijuana producer's, marijuana processor's, marijuana researcher's or marijuana retailer's license and licensees who apply for a change of location under this chapter must display a sign provided by the state liquor and cannabis board on the outside of the premises to be licensed notifying the public that the premises are subject to an application for such license. The sign must:
(a) Contain text with content sufficient to notify the public of the nature of the pending license application, the date of the application, the name of the applicant, and contact information for the state liquor and cannabis board;
(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; and
(d) Be posted within seven business days of the submission of the application to the state liquor and cannabis board.
(2) The state liquor and cannabis board must adopt such rules as are necessary for the implementation of this section, including rules pertaining to the size of the sign and the text thereon, the textual content of the sign, the fee for providing the sign, and any other requirements necessary to ensure that the sign provides adequate notice to the public.
(3)(a) A city, town, or county may adopt an ordinance requiring individual notice by an applicant for a marijuana producer's, marijuana processor's, marijuana researcher's, or marijuana retailer's license under this chapter, sixty days prior to issuance of the license, to any elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, church, public park, public transit center, library, licensed business, or any game arcade admission to which is not restricted to persons aged twenty-one years or older, that is within one thousand feet of the perimeter of the grounds of the establishment seeking licensure. The ordinance may also require notice be given to any residents who reside within one thousand feet of the proposed establishment. The notice must provide the contact information for the liquor and cannabis board where any of the objecting residents or owners or operators of these entities may submit comments or concerns about the proposed business location.
(b)
(i) The board must consider the objections from the residents or owners or operators of the entities listed in (a) of this subsection based upon the factors specified in RCW 69.50.331(10), associated with the applicant's operations of the premises proposed to be licensed or the applicant's operation of any other licensed premises, or the conduct of the applicant's patrons inside or outside the licensed premises.(ii) The written objections must include a statement of all facts upon which the objections are based. If written objections are filed, the objecting residents or owners or operators of the entities may request, and the board must hold, a hearing subject to the applicable provisions of Title 34 RCW. (iii) If the board makes an initial decision to deny a license, renewal, or change of location based on the written objections of an objecting resident or entity, the applicant or licensee may request a hearing subject to the applicable provisions of Title 34 RCW. If a hearing is held at the request of the applicant, the objecting residents or owners or operators may appear and present their objections, and the board representatives must present and defend the board's initial decision to deny a license or renewal or an application for a change of location. (c) For the purposes of this subsection, "church" means a building erected for and used exclusively for religious worship and schooling or other activity in connection therewith."
Adds additional statutory requirements for a marijuana licensee who applies to move the location of the licensed business. Requires notice to local governments of a proposed relocation and allows the local government to file an objection within 45 days of the notice. If requested by a local government, the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) must hold a hearing on any application by the licensee. The objecting local government has the right to appear and present its objections. The basis for a local government's right to object to a license application is expanded to include: (1) The number of existing licensed retail outlets within five miles; and (2) law enforcement's concern about potential products being transported out-of-state.
Modifies the definition of "chronic illegal activity" to cover a pattern of activity (instead of a "pervasive" pattern) and expanded to include that out-of-state diversion activity and illegal activity may also be considered when reported by law enforcement of another state.
Adds new provisions for objecting residents and entities: (1) The LCB must consider those objections; (2) the residents and entities have the right to request, and present their objections, at a hearing, if the LCB approves an application; and (3) the residents and entities have the right to appear and present their objections at any hearing requested by an applicant whose application was denied.
Directs the Liquor and Cannabis Board to assist, within available resources, any in-state or out-of-state law enforcement agency with concerns over the in-state purchase of licensed marijuana products for use or resale outside of this state.