First marijuana retail stores open in state; Kent bans such businesses

Kent residents who want to legally buy recreational marijuana can find the nearest locations in Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue.

The city of Kent has a ban against recreational marijuana businesses. Voters statewide in 2012 approved Initiative 502 to allow recreational marijuana  production, processing and sales.

Kent is the largest city in the state that bans marijuana businesses. Kent is the sixth largest city in the state with a population of more than 120,000.

The first retail store opened Tuesday in Bellingham, followed by one in Seattle.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) on Monday issued the state’s first 24 marijuana retailer licenses. The specific opening dates of each location have yet to be determined.

The applicants were notified via email early Monday that they were approved for a retail license. Once approved for a license, producers and/or processors are able to file a required manifest for transporting to retail locations. Following a 24 hour quarantine period, they may begin transporting products to retail stores. Marijuana retailers may begin selling marijuana at their discretion following receipt of product and entering it in to the traceability system.

Businesses receiving their licenses from the state represent the first of 334 licenses allotted by the WSLCB for retail sales who have successfully completed the licensing process. Locations receiving licenses were selected by taking into account population, geographic dispersion and the individual applicant’s readiness to be licensed.

The board also looked at whether cities allow recreational marijuana businesses.

Here’s the list of retail outlets licensed by the state:

• Whidbey Island Cannabis Company, Langley

• Westside 420 Recreational, Longview

• Verde Valley, Union Gap

• Top Shelf Cannabis, Bellingham

• The Happy Crop Shoppe, East Wenatchee

• Spokane Green Leaf, Spokane

• Space, Tacoma

• Sartori/Instant Karma, Spokane

• New Vansterdam, Vancouver

• Margie’s Pot Shot, Bingen

• Main Street Marijuana, Vancouver

• High Time Station, Ephrata

• Green Theory, Bellevue

• Green Star Cannabis, Spokane

• Freedom Market, Kelso

• Creative Retail Management, Tacoma

• Cascade Kropz, Arlington

• Cannabis City, Seattle

• Bud Hut, Camano Island

• Austin Lott, Winthrop

• Altitude,  Prosser

• 4US Retail,  Okanogan

• 420 Carpenter,  Lacey

• 2020 Solutions, Bellingham