I-502 Consulting Services to Washington State Liquor Control Board: Update from the Bidders Conference

A crowd of approximately 100 attendees sparsely filled two large ballrooms at the Tacoma Convention Center as potential bidders asked questions pursuant to contract K430 for Initiative 502 consulting services for the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB). I-502 is the initiative which passed in November 2012 legalizing recreational marijuana use in Washington State. The WSLCB issued a request for proposals to support implementation of four key areas of I-502 on January 17th, and the bidders conference was held January 30th; all bids are due by February 15th.  Attendees asked questions of the WSLCB and took advantage of the opportunity to network with each other in anticipation of finding or filling sub contracting opportunities

Bidders Conference for Contracting Services for I-502 Implementation with Washington State Liquor Control Board

The state contract K430 (which Mr. John Farley, a contract specialist with the WSLCB, occasionally referred to as 'K420' in an adorable Freudian slip) will ideally be awarded to one main contractor who will undoubtedly require the support of some sub-contracting services, given the unprecedented nature of the I-502 initiative.The state's strong preference for hiring one main consultant versus four different consultants for the different categories of expertise makes sense given the tight timelines required to make the deadlines stipulated in the text of I-502.

The four categories of expertise sought by the WSLCB are:
- Product Industry Knowledge
- Product Quality Standards and Testing
- Product Usage and Consumption Validation
- Product Regulation

Due to obvious conflicts of interest, the winning contractor will not be eligible to apply for producer, processor or retailer licenses under I-502 during the time they are under contract with the WSLCB. A number of strong candidates for one or two of the categories were present, but it seems clear that a team will need to be assembled with members who have expertise (and who meet the minimum qualifications) in each of the four categories of expertise. A number of small to mid-sized consulting companies were present, along with a handful of experts in analytical testing services, lawyers and an assortment of cannabis cultivators.

The Federally illegal nature of marijuana presents unique issues for a state contract, as some of the most qualified candidates have ancillary baggage such as felony convictions or other inconveniences. There were thought provoking questions like "my cannabis testing facility was raided by the Feds in 2011...as a non-profit under investigation by the FBI, can I apply using my existing business license, or should I apply for a new one?" One gentleman present presented me (a potential bidder on the K430 contract) with a photograph of his graduating class from Oaksterdam University as his credentials for sub-contracting opportunities.

Members of the WSLCB seem genuinely interested in making I-502 succeed. Mr. Farley was absolutely believable when he told the audience "we want you guys to be successful - we don't want you going to jail for doing what the LCB has asked you to do". Of course, just because the WSLCB wants to see successful implementation of I-502 doesn't mean the Federal government isn't going to get their knickers in a knot once licenses start getting issued and things start happening. There are absolutely no guarantees of how the Federal government will act over the course of I-502 implementation. Perhaps President Obama, an alumnus of the Choom Gang, will take the opportunity of his final term in office to address re-scheduling of Cannabis (from a Schedule I drug to anything else). Only time will tell - but the tide is turning in favor of marijuana legalization and Washington State seems to have the needed support of local legislators.

------------(c) 2013 Stoner Living Blog

This article may be re-published with permission of the editor - stonerlivingblog@gmail.com
 

Mayor McGinn, I-502 and the Legalization of Cannabis: let's be good neighbors

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) held its first educational event in Seattle at the swanky Washington Athletic Club on January 28, 2013 with special guest Mayor Mike McGinn. While the mayor tried to play off as any other meeting with a trade association "like the Realtors or something", the press presence loomed large, making it difficult to ignore the historic nature of the post-prohibition business meeting.

Mayor McGinn: Advocate of the Legal Cannabis Industry and a Neighborly Guy

McGinn's message to the industry was positive, but also reinforced the importance of the industry being good neighbors to everyone else.  After all, 45% of the voters in Washington state voted against I-502. The mayor suggested that the best way to proceed was to be "really thoughtful of the concerns of others." And this would seem to include the concerns of the Federal Government. McGinn was excited - almost exuberant - as he spoke about the possibilities of the legal marijuana industry. He gushed about the local music scene and the new micro-distilleries springing up across the state. But as much as he wanted to share the wealth, he did caution that cannabis tourism touched on interstate tourism (and other stuff squarely in the camp of the Feds) and that avoiding such sensitive areas was the best way to avoid the attention of  the Federal government.

Some of the folks in McGinn's camp seem ready for any such Federal showdown. One such ally, representative Roger Goodman (D, Kirkland), an attorney, stood by during the question and answer session to assist McGinn with questions. He said he was willing to argue the case before the US supreme court, if needed.

McGinn was the first mayor of a major US city to come out in support of full on legalization of marijuana. As he explained it, he didn't even realize the pioneering nature of his stance; while running for office he made some statement about how if everybody who held office that had ever tried marijuana was to vote for legalization it would be legal. It didn't come up again until after he was elected.

A few points were clarified throughout the evening. Vending machines will not be allowed under I-502. Existing medical marijuana vendors will not be grandfathered in and issued retailer's licenses (they won't necessarily be excluded, but they aren't guaranteed a retail license). Existing dispensaries not adhering to the 1000 foot rule specified in I-502 are not exempt from the 1000 foot rule, so the opening of retail 502 stores may bring enforcement to non-compliant medical vendors.

Overall, the tone of the evening was positive and upbeat. McGinn took time to marvel at how quickly legalization of cannabis was progressing. He realized that we have arrived at a "new normal". McGinn, a resident of Greenwood, remarked on the proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries in his own neighborhood. "They're really putting the green in Greenwood."

Crowd at NCIA Meeting with Mike McGinn

During opening remarks, Aaron Smith of the NCIA reminded attendees that "before it was an industry it was a movement". McGinn encouraged attendees to let the progressive values of Seattle help shape the new legal cannabis industry. He called out the traditional values of Seattle - local, crafted, authentic, small provider/not big chains, no GMO, fair trade - and called on the founders of the new industry to use the values that shaped our local heritage as we create the world of legal cannabis.

As the mayor himself said,  "We can't ask for anything else but to be good neighbors".

--------------- (c) 2013  Stoner Living Blog

Raphael Mechoulam: The Father of Medical Marijuana Research

Israeli pharmacologist  Raphael Mechoulam was a part of the research team responsible for identifying and synthesizing THC over 50 years ago. He continues to explore the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabinoids.

Raphael Mechoulam

“I believe that the cannabinoids represent a medicinal treasure trove which waits to be discovered,” says Mechoulam.

Dr. Mechoulam officially retired 15 years ago but continues to write grants and works from his lab at the Department for Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products at the Hadassah- Hebrew University medical school in Israel.

Early in his research, he had difficulty obtaining high potency cannabis for his studies. Indeed, this remains a significant problem for researchers today. He contacted the army buddy of a colleague, who was the head of the investigative branch of the national police. Unaware of official protocol, the officer provided the young faculty member with five kilograms of seized Lebanese hashish. He credits some of his success to working in a small country where such connections were possible.

1963
Mechoulam and his research partners revealed the structure of cannabidiol (CBD), an ingredient in cannabis with anti-inflammatory properties.
1964
Mechoulam and his research partners isolated THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, for the first time, established its structure and synthesized it.

Some of Mechoulam's latest research is focusing on the chemical basis of personality. "We have started looking at something nobody has yet really looked at thoroughly: The chemical basis for why eight billion people in the world have different personalities. The same compounds are found in all our brains; however, they all go up and down constantly.”

Thanks to Dr. Mechoulam for his contributions to science and we wish him the best on his future research endeavors.

-------- (C) 2012 Stoner Living