OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — As Washington state prepares to
issue the first licenses for marijuana retail stores, Gov. Jay Inslee
and other state leaders on Tuesday announced a coordinated campaign to
make sure pot stays out of the hands of minors once products start
hitting store shelves next month.
"Those who have led the effort
to legalize this product understand that we’ve got to make sure that
parents’ roles are respected and emphasized and that the health of our
children is of our paramount concern," Inslee said. Different state
agencies are working together "to make sure the public has the
information they need to make healthy decisions and the tools that they
need to keep our kids safe," he said.
The Liquor Control Board
will issue about 20 retail licenses on July 7, and the stores that are
ready can open the next day. More stores will get licensed in the
following days.
During Tuesday’s news conference, officials with
the state Liquor Control Board,
which has been overseeing the
implementation of the state’s recreational marijuana law,
said that
they are poised to adopt emergency rules Wednesday to do three things
concerning edible marijuana: require all marijuana-infused products to
be labeled clearly as containing marijuana; require all products to be
scored in such a way that a serving size is easily identified by the
consumer; and requiring marijuana-infused products to be approved by the
board before sale.
Previously adopted rules already require
marijuana-infused products to be stored behind a counter or other
barrier, and to be child-resistant. Officials stressed that no product
will approved if it has a label that is appealing to kids.
"We’re
just not going to let toys or cartoon figures be used on our labels,"
said Sharon Foster, chairwoman of the state liquor control board.
Foster
noted that officials are also worried about adult consumers who may not
realize the impact of varying products. "The marijuana today is not the
marijuana of the 60s," she said.
Edibles won’t be available right
away once stores open because a commercial kitchen is required, and, so
far, no processors with commercial kitchens have been licensed.
The
state has launched a $400,000 statewide radio and online campaign by
the Department of Health this week that urges parents to talk with their
children about the health risks of using marijuana. The Washington
Traffic Safety Commission also launched a "Drive High, Get a DUI"
campaign.
"We are not going to allow this effort of legalization
to increase the risks of our family members on the roadways," Inslee
said.
State Patrol Chief John Batiste said that troopers have been trained to recognize signs of stoned
driving.
"We’ve been dealing with this for a long time," he said. "We just simply ask that with
access, that people are responsible."
At
the end of 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to
legalize possession of recreational marijuana by adults 21 and older.
The voters also called for the establishment of systems of
state-licensed pot growers, processors and retail stores.
Sales have already begun in Colorado.