Shawn DeNae
Washington Bud Company
Snohomish, Washington
A long list of shenanigans and good intentions abound along its bumpy tracks: A former IRS agent from Seattle was sentenced to prison for bribery after a medical marijuana dispensary turned him in to authorities; two prominent growers in Washington are under investigation for unlawful pesticide use; the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board lost applicants’ fingerprints, including ours; state lawmakers allowed a home grow bill to die in session, making those who grow their own weed de facto criminals; the city of Seattle has jumped the gun for transitioning medical stores into the regulated system by giving three-week notices to begin the process now or close their doors, despite the laws giving a July 1 deadline; the Liquor and Cannabis Board held its final hearing on the 90-plus pages of rule changes, only to realize it may have to go back to the drawing board due to the strong outcry from licensees regarding proposed rules that seem to serve no purpose other than adding more expenses.
In the meantime, we are making the transition ourselves, unclear of which rules will remain. Do we have to redesign our packaging to allow for a pesticide statement sticker? How long will getting new fingerprints hold us up? It’s like building a business on top of a train, hoping it will survive as we barrel toward more tunnels, twists and turns.
But I do see a light at the end. A small group of us began the task of forming the nation’s first Cannabis Commission. Like the apple, hops and wine grape commissions, cannabis agriculture could finally be researched to establish standards for the very best and safest growing, harvesting and packaging practices. The commission assessments will also pay for fact-based education platforms for both consumers and decision-makers. Information can be found at www.washingtonstatecannabiscommission.com.
Other bright spots are: The city of Arlington has shown that welcoming the cannabis industry provides more jobs than aerospace (one job for every 250 square feet compared to one job for every 450 square feet); fractured cannabis activists have finally come together, so the Liquor and Cannabis Board and lawmakers are better able to hear the aligned voices; a bill that will protect confidential information from public disclosure is moving forward; the market seems to be a bit more stable; and, finally, I have some excitement about the future of our fragile business venture, now that it’s our turn to climb aboard.
Even though a majority of Americans agree that cannabis should be regulated, as opposed to continuing to make it part of the War on Drugs, lawmakers are slow to represent that majority. Legalized cannabis is far from a given liberty; there is resistance everywhere. If you are even thinking about jumping on the marijuana industry train, start with your local governing bodies and begin the education process. It’s a long journey, and hopefully worth the high costs of the ride.
Shawn DeNae is the CEO of Washington Bud Company, an aspiring applicant for a producer/processor license. She is one of the founding members of the Marijuana Business Association Women’s Alliance.