By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – With just three days left before the deadline to apply for a state license to legally sell marijuana, four entities in Lewis County have sought the okay from authorities.
Storefronts for cannabis could potentially open at a gas and grocery in Onalaska, and locations on Centralia’s South Gold Street as well as State Avenue in Chehalis and farther south along Jackson Highway.
But it won’t happen anytime soon.
Moratoriums are in place regarding such activity in the cities of Chehalis, Centralia and in unincorporated areas of the county. Even once they end, Lewis County officials and Mossyrock leaders have already chosen to require applicants to provide approval from the feds, which still outlaw marijuana.
The new market on the verge of opening comes from last year’s passage by voters of Initiative 502. The law that went into effect last December made it legal for for individuals 21 or older to possess as much as one ounce of marijuana and set up rules under which licensees may cultivate and package the greens and related products.
The number of retailers who could locate in Lewis County is capped at seven, with no more than two inside Centralia city limits and just one within the city of Chehalis.
There is no limit to the number of growers and processors, and already more than 20 locally have indicated their desire by submitting applications to the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
A spokesperson for the state agency said he suspects stores could begin selling by late June, but the timing falls on the market itself, as crops must be first grown and then processed.
The WSLCB could begin issuing licenses as soon as late February or early March, spokesperson Mikhail Carpenter said yesterday.
Carpenter based that on the 60 to 90 days it usually takes to issue liquor licenses.
Retailing hopefuls so far are:
• Allen’s Grocery & Gas, 2058 state Route 508, Onalaska
• Old Toby, 391 NW State Ave., Chehalis
• K-B Buds, 4237 Jackson Highway, Chehalis
• Casey’s Cannibas, 1613 S. Gold Street, Centralia
Wannabe growers and processors locally so far, are:
• Green Freedom, 119 and 120 Wallace Road, Mossyrock
• Tala Farms, Kjesbu Road, Silver Creek
• Evergreen Nirvana, 501 Boone Road, Ethel
• Silver Trees, 453 Gore Road, Onalaska
• Staffy’s Garden, 3966 Jackson Highway, Chehalis
• Wind Rose Farms, 763-11 Coal Creek Road, Chehalis
• MNO, 208 Maurin Road, Chehalis
• Evergreen Trees LLC, 208 Maurin Road, Chehalis
• Holland’s Hope, 208 Maurin Road, Chehalis
ª Alfhild Venutures, 208 Maurin Road, Chehalis
• Green Acres, 2405 Wildwood Road, Curtis
• Forbidden Farms at 201 Boistfort-Winlock Road, Chehalis
• Aaron’s Original, 177 Rarey Road, Winlock
• Nivia Enterprises, 142 Blake Road, Toledo
• Triple K Ranch, 757 Spencer Road, Toledo
• Kenneth Kindred, 2576 Seminary Hill Road, Centralia
• Warehouse 420, 21847 Lee Road, Centralia
• Grace’s Gold, 3134 Zenkner Valley Road, SW, Centralia
• Planet Medicine, 1708 Kresky Ave., Centralia
• George Washington Brand, 619 W. Reynolds Ave., Centralia
• Eastern Gate, 515 N. Gold St., Centralia
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For further details about the emerging marijuana market, check FAQ on I-502 from Washington State Liquor Control Board, here [1]