OLYMPIA — Members of the public are getting their chance to influence the creation of a legal marijuana market in Washington state.
The state Liquor Control Board — the agency charged with implementing Initiative 502 — on Tuesday announced a series of evening public forums where people can have their say about the rules governing the pot market. I-502 passed with 56 percent of the vote in November’s election. It legalizes the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and sets up a regulatory scheme of state-licensed marijuana growers, processers and retail stores.
The first meeting will be next Tuesday at the Liquor Control Board’s Olympia headquarters. It will be followed by forums Jan. 24 in Seattle, Feb. 7 in Vancouver, Feb. 12 in Spokane, Feb. 19 in Mount Vernon and Feb. 21 in Yakima.
