Chapter 4.06
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA
Sections:
4.06.010 Findings and purpose.
4.06.030 License required—Effective date.
4.06.040 Relationship to recreational marijuana laws and other laws.
4.06.050 Designation of licensing authority.
4.06.060 Requirements of application for license—Payment of application fee.
4.06.080 Denial of application.
4.06.110 Outdoor signage and advertising.
4.06.120 Security requirements.
4.06.130 Report of disturbances and unlawful activity.
4.06.140 Visibility of activities—Control of emissions.
4.06.160 Inspection of licensed premises.
4.06.170 Nonrenewal, suspension or revocation of license.
4.06.180 No city liability—Indemnification.
4.06.190 Other laws remain applicable.
4.06.010 Findings and purpose.
A. The council adopts all of the “whereas” sections of the ordinance codified in this chapter as findings to support this chapter.
B. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the application process, qualifications and requirements to obtain a recreational marijuana business license, terms of such licenses, renewals, violations and penalties.
C. No part of this chapter is intended to or shall be deemed to conflict with federal law, including but not limited to the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 800 et seq., the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Chapter 69.50 RCW) nor to otherwise permit any activity that is prohibited under either Act, or any other local, state or federal law, statute, rule or regulation. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to supersede Washington State law prohibiting the acquisition, possession, manufacture, sale or use of medical cannabis or recreational marijuana in any manner not authorized by Chapter 69.50 or 69.51A RCW. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to supersede legislation prohibiting persons from engaging in conduct that endangers others, or that creates a nuisance, as defined herein. It is the intention of the city council that this chapter be interpreted to be compatible with federal and state enactments and in furtherance of the public purposes that those enactments encompass. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.020 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
A. “Child care center” means an entity that regularly provides child day care and early learning services for a group of children for periods of less than twenty-four hours licensed by the Washington State Department of Early Learning, under Chapter 170-295 WAC.
B. “Cultivation” means the planting, growing, harvesting, drying or processing of marijuana plants or any part thereof.
C. “Deliver” or “delivery” means the actual or constructive transfer from one person to another of a substance, whether or not there is an agency relationship.
D. “Elementary school” means a school for early education that provides the first four to eight years of basic education and is recognized by the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
E. “Game arcade” means an entertainment venue featuring primarily video games, simulators, and/or other amusement devices where persons under twenty-one years of age are not restricted.
F. “Indoors” means within a fully enclosed and secure structure that complies with the Washington State Building Code, as adopted by the city, that has a complete roof enclosure supported by connecting walls extending from the ground to the roof, and a foundation, slab, or equivalent base to which the floor is securely attached. The structure must be secure against unauthorized entry, accessible only through one or more lockable doors, and constructed of solid materials that cannot easily be broken through, such as two-inch by four-inch or thicker studs overlain with three-eighths-inch or thicker plywood or equivalent materials. Plastic sheeting, regardless of gauge, or similar products do not satisfy this requirement.
G. “Library” means an organized collection of resources made accessible to the public for reference or borrowing supported with money derived from taxation.
H. “Marijuana” means all parts of the plant cannabis, whether growing or not, with a THC concentration greater than three-tenths percent on a dry weight basis; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin. For the purposes of this chapter, “cannabis” or “marijuana” does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the mature stalks, except the resin extracted therefrom, fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination.
I. “Marijuana-infused products” means products that contain marijuana or marijuana extracts and are intended for human use. The term “marijuana-infused products” does not include useable marijuana.
J. “Marijuana, useable” means dried marijuana flowers. The term “useable marijuana” does not include marijuana-infused products.
K. “Outdoors” means any location that is not “indoors” within a fully enclosed and secure structure as defined herein.
L. “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision of agency or any other legal or commercial entity.
M. “Playground” means a public outdoor recreation area for children, usually equipped with swings, slides and other playground equipment, owned and/or managed by a city, county, state or federal government.
N. “Process” means to handle or process cannabis in preparation for medical use.
O. “Processor, marijuana” means a person licensed by the State Liquor Control Board to process marijuana into useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products, package and label useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products for sale in retail outlets, and sell useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products as wholesale to marijuana retailers.
P. “Producer, marijuana” means a person licensed by the State Liquor Control Board to produce and sell marijuana at wholesale to marijuana processors and other marijuana producers.
Q. “Produce” or “production” means to manufacture, plant, grow or harvest cannabis or marijuana.
R. “Public park” means an area of land for the enjoyment of the public, having facilities for rest and/or recreation, such as a baseball diamond or basketball court, owned and/or managed by a city, county, state, federal government or metropolitan park district. Public park does not include trails.
S. “Public place” includes streets and alleys of incorporated cities and towns; state or county or township highways or roads; buildings and grounds used for school purposes; public dance halls and grounds adjacent thereto; premises where goods and services are offered to the public for retail sale; public buildings, public meeting halls, lobbies, halls and dining rooms of hotels, restaurants, theaters, stores, garages, and filling stations which are open to and are generally used by the public and to which the public is permitted to have unrestricted access; railroad trains, stages, buses, ferries, and other public conveyances of all kinds and character, and the depots, stops, and waiting rooms used in conjunction therewith which are open to unrestricted use and access by the public; publicly owned bathing beaches, parks, or playgrounds; and all other places of like or similar nature to which the general public has unrestricted right of access, and which are generally used by the public.
T. “Public transit center” means a facility located outside of the public right-of-way that is owned and managed by a transit agency or city, county, state or federal government for the express purpose of staging people and vehicles where several bus or other transit routes converge. They serve as efficient hubs to allow bus riders from various locations to assemble at a central point to take advantage of express trips or other route to route transfers.
U. “Recreation center or facility” means a supervised center that provides a broad range of activities and events intended primarily for use by persons under twenty-one years of age, owned and/or managed by a charitable nonprofit organization, city, county, state or federal government.
V. “Retailer, marijuana” means a person licensed by the State Liquor Control Board to sell useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products in a retail outlet.
W. “Retail outlet” means a location licensed by the State Liquor Control Board for the retail sale of useable marijuana and marijuana-infused products.
X. “Secondary school” means a high and/or middle school: a school for students who have completed their primary education, usually attended by children in grades seven to twelve and recognized by the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Y. “Useable cannabis” or “useable marijuana” means dried flowers of the cannabis plant. The term “useable cannabis or useable marijuana” does not include marijuana-infused products or cannabis products. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.030 License required—Effective date.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to operate any recreational marijuana producer, processor or retail outlet without first having obtained a local license under this chapter and a state license under Chapter 314-55 WAC, for each facility to be operated in connection with such business. Such license shall be kept current at all times, and the failure to maintain a current license shall constitute a violation of this section.
B. No person shall be deemed to have any entitlement or vested right to licensing under this chapter by virtue of having received any prior license or permit from the city, including, by way of example, any zoning permit, medical marijuana license, wholesale food manufacturer’s license, or any other license. In order to lawfully engage in the business of producing, processing or selling recreational marijuana in the city, a person must qualify for and obtain a license in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 314-55 WAC.
C. This chapter is not intended to regulate the possession, cultivation or use of medical marijuana by anyone who may qualify as a qualified patient or designated care provider, under Chapter 69.51A RCW. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.040 Relationship to recreational marijuana laws and other laws.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, this chapter incorporates the requirements and procedures set forth in I-502, as codified in Chapter 69.50 RCW and Chapter 314-55 WAC. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of Chapter 69.50 RCW or Chapter 314-55 WAC, the more restrictive provision shall control. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.050 Designation of licensing authority.
The city clerk, or such other individual designated by the mayor, shall serve as the local licensing authority for the purpose of administering this chapter. The licensing authority shall have the following responsibilities:
A. To grant or deny licenses under this chapter, to grant or deny transfers of ownership or location of the license and impose penalties against licensees in the manner provided by law.
B. To promulgate rules and regulations regarding the procedures for hearings before the licensing authority, and to administer oaths and issue subpoenas to require the presence of persons and the production of papers, books and records at any hearing which the authority is authorized to conduct. Any such subpoena shall be served in the same manner as a subpoena issued by the Washington courts.
C. To require any applicant or licensee to furnish any relevant information required by this chapter. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.060 Requirements of application for license—Payment of application fee.
A. A person or entity seeking a license pursuant to Washington State law and the provisions of this chapter shall submit an application to the city on forms provided by the city. At the time of the application, each applicant shall pay a nonrefundable application fee to defray the costs incurred by the city for the processing of the application, as well as an inspection fee (as described in Section 4.06.070). In addition, the applicant shall present a suitable form of identification.
B. The applicant shall also provide the following information on a form approved by, or acceptable to, the licensing authority, which information may be required for the applicant, the proposed manager of the recreational marijuana business (production, processing or retail outlet) and all persons having a financial interest in such business that is the subject of the application, or, if the applicant is an entity, having a financial interest in the entity:
1. Name, address and date of birth;
2. An acknowledgment and consent that the city may conduct a background investigation, including a criminal history check, and that the city will be entitled to full and complete disclosure of all financial records of the recreational marijuana business, including records of deposit, withdrawals, balances and loans;
3. If the applicant is a business entity, information regarding the entity, including, without limitation, the name and address of the entity, its legal status, and proof of registration with, or a certificate of good standing from, the Washington Secretary of State, as applicable;
4. If the applicant is not the owner of the proposed licensed premises, a notarized statement from the owner of such property authorizing the use of the property for the recreational marijuana use (production, processing or retail outlet);
5. A copy of any deed reflecting the applicant’s ownership of, or lease reflecting the right of the applicant to process, the proposed licensed premises;
6. Evidence of a valid state license for the recreational marijuana business;
7. A “to scale” diagram of the proposed licensed premises, no larger than eleven inches by seventeen inches, showing, without limitation, building layout, all entryways and exits to the proposed licensed premises, loading zones and all areas in which recreational marijuana will be stored, grown, manufactured or sold;
8. A comprehensive business operation plan for the recreational marijuana business which shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
(a) A security plan meeting the requirements of state law;
(b) A description of all products to be processed, produced, cultivated or sold;
(c) A plan for exterior signage that is in compliance with state law, this chapter and the city’s sign code, including photographs and/or illustrations of the proposed signage; and
9. Any additional information that the licensing authority reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the investigation and review of the application.
C. All recreational marijuana businesses shall obtain other required permits or licenses related to the operation of the business, including, without limitation, any development approvals or building permits required by this code, the building code or the zoning code.
D. Upon receipt of a completed application, the licensing authority may circulate the application to all affected service areas and departments of the city to determine whether the application is in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
E. The city may, prior to issuance of the license, perform an inspection of the proposed licensed premises to determine compliance with any applicable requirements of this article or other provisions of this code, the building code or the zoning code. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.070 Inspection fee.
In order for the license to issue, and upon renewal thereafter, the licensee shall pay to the city a nonrefundable fee in an amount determined by the city to cover the costs associated with the individual inspection conducted pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.080 Denial of application.
The licensing authority may deny any application for a license or license renewal that does not meet the requirements of Washington State law or this chapter. The licensing authority may deny any application that contains any false, misleading or incomplete information. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.090 Location criteria.
A. No license shall be issued to a recreational marijuana producer, processor or retail outlet if the proposed licensed business is within one thousand feet of any of the following:
1. Elementary or secondary school;
2. Playground;
3. Recreation center or facility;
4. Child care center;
5. Public park;
6. Public transit center;
7. Library; or
8. Any game arcade (where admission is not restricted to persons age twenty-one or older).
The distances described above shall be measured as follows: the shortest straight line distance from the property line of the proposed building/business location to the property line of the entities listed above.
B. No license shall be issued to a recreational marijuana producer, processor or retail outlet if the proposed business is located within the boundaries of any residential district.
C. No license shall be issued to a recreational marijuana producer, processor or retail outlet if the proposed business is located in a residential unit. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.100 Change of location.
A change in the location of a recreational marijuana business occurs any time a move by the licensee results in any change to the physical location address. A change in the location of such business requires the submission of a new application under Section 4.06.060. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.110 Outdoor signage and advertising.
A. All signage and advertising for a recreational marijuana processor, producer or retail outlet shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Sumas Municipal Code and WAC 314-55-155 (and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder).
B. Violations of this section relating to the sign or zoning code provisions of the Sumas Municipal Code shall constitute an infraction and shall result in a five hundred dollar fine. Each violation and each day it continues shall constitute a separate infraction. For violations of WAC 314-55-155 and 314-55-525, the city may report the violation to the State Liquor Control Board. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.120 Security requirements.
Security measures at all licensed premises shall comply with the requirements of WAC 314-55-083 (and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder). (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.130 Report of disturbances and unlawful activity.
A. All licensees and any agent, manager or employee thereof shall immediately report to the city police department any disorderly act, conduct or disturbance and any unlawful activity committed in or on the licensed premises, including, but not limited to, any unlawful resale of marijuana, and shall also immediately report any such activity in the immediate vicinity of the business.
B. Each licensee shall post and keep at all times visible to the public in a conspicuous place on the premises a sign with a minimum height of fourteen inches and a minimum width of eleven inches with each letter to be a minimum of one-half inch in height, which shall read as follows:
WARNING:
The City of Sumas Police Department must be notified of all disorderly acts, conduct or disturbances and all unlawful activities which occur on or within the premises of this licensed establishment.
C. It shall not be a defense to a prosecution of a licensee under this section that the licensee was not personally present on the premises at the time such unlawful activity, disorderly act, conduct or disturbance was committed; however, no agent or employee of the licensee shall be personally responsible for failing to report any disorderly act, conduct or disturbance and any unlawful activity hereunder if such agent, servant or employee was absent from the premises at the time such activity was committed.
D. Failure to comply with the requirements of this section shall be considered by the licensing authority in any action relating to the issuance, revocation, suspension or nonrenewal of a license. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.140 Visibility of activities—Control of emissions.
A. All activities of the recreational marijuana business, including, but not limited to, cultivating, growing, processing, displaying, manufacturing, selling and storage, shall be conducted out of the public view.
B. No recreational marijuana or paraphernalia shall be displayed or kept in a business so as to be visible from outside the licensed premises.
C. Sufficient measures and means of preventing smoke, odors, debris, dust, fluids and other substances from exiting the recreational marijuana business must be in effect at all times. In the event that any odors, dust, fluids or other substances exit a recreational marijuana business, the owner of the subject premises and the licensee shall be jointly and severally liable for such conditions and shall be responsible for the immediate, full clean-up and correction of such condition. The licensee shall properly dispose of all such materials, items and other substances in a safe, sanitary and secure manner and in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.150 Sales tax.
Each recreational marijuana business shall collect and remit city sales tax on all recreational marijuana paraphernalia and other tangible personal property used or sold at the licensed premises. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.160 Inspection of licensed premises.
During all business hours and other times of apparent activity, all licensed premises shall be subject to inspection by the police department and all other city departments, as designated by the licensing authority, for the purpose of investigating and determining compliance with the provisions of this chapter and any other applicable state and local laws and regulations. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.170 Nonrenewal, suspension or revocation of license.
A. The licensing authority may, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing (using the procedures set forth in Chapter 4.04), suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license for any of the following reasons:
1. The applicant or licensee, or his or her agent, manager or employee, has violated, does not meet or has failed to comply with, any of the terms, requirements, conditions or provisions of this chapter or with any applicable state or local law or regulation; or
2. The applicant or licensee, or his or her agent, manager or employee, has failed to comply with any special terms or conditions of its license pursuant to an order of the state or local licensing authority, including those terms and conditions that were established at the time of issuance of the license and those imposed as a result of any disciplinary proceedings held subsequent to the date of the issuance of the license.
B. Evidence to support a finding under subsection A of this section may include, without limitation, a continuing pattern of disorderly conduct, a continuing pattern of drug-related criminal conduct within the premises of the business or in the immediate area surrounding such business, or an ongoing nuisance condition emanating from or caused by the recreational marijuana business. Criminal conduct shall be limited to the violation of state or city law. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.180 No city liability—Indemnification.
A. By accepting a license issued pursuant to this chapter, the licensee waives and releases the city, its officers, elected officials, employees, volunteers and agents from any liability for injuries, damages, or liabilities of any kind that result from any arrest or prosecution of business owners, operators, employees, clients or customers for a violation of federal, state or local laws and regulations.
B. By accepting a license issued pursuant to this chapter, all licensees, jointly and severally, if more than one, agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the city, its officers, elected officials, employees, volunteers and agents, insurers and self-insurance pool against all liability, claims and demands on account of any injury, loss or damage, including, without limitation, claims arising from bodily injury, personal injury, sickness, disease, death, property loss or damage, or any other loss of any kind whatsoever arising out of or in any manner connected with the operation of the recreational marijuana business that is the subject of the license. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)
4.06.190 Other laws remain applicable.
A. To the extent the state or the city adopts in the future any additional or stricter law or regulation governing the production, processing or sale of recreational marijuana, the additional or stricter regulation shall control the establishment or operation of any recreational marijuana business in the city. Compliance with any applicable state law or regulation shall be deemed an additional requirement for issuance or denial of any license under this chapter, and noncompliance with any applicable state law or regulation shall be grounds for revocation or suspension of any license issued hereunder.
B. If the state prohibits the production, processing, sale or other distribution of marijuana through the premises licensed under this chapter, any license issued hereunder shall be deemed immediately revoked by operation of law. (Ord. 1631 § 1 (part), 2013)