Washington
About the Data: A safe estimate of 43% of Washington’s 281 local governments prohibit adult-use retail sales.
The details: A map of Local Zoning Ordinances maintained by the state’s Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) shows that:
- 35% (81 cities out of 229) local governments on the map have enacted prohibitions on cannabis businesses
- 17% (39 cities out of 229) took no action, which “means the city or town did not pass any regulations either allowing or prohibiting cannabis retail, production or processing,” Gabrielle Nicas, MLIS, information specialist/librarian for the MRSC, told Cannabis Business Times. “In many, if not most, of these cases there was no need to pass regulations because they have a de facto prohibition given that there are no locations within the city or town that meet the minimum buffer distance requirements that no licensed cannabis producers, processors or retailers can be within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center, etc.”
(However, since 52 of the state’s 281 local governments are not included on the map, the MRSC was not able to confirm what actions, if any, were taken, Nicas said.)
Based on the available numbers, it would be a safe estimate to say that adult-use cannabis sales are prohibited in 120 (the total of the 81 that enacted prohibitions plus 39 that took no action) of 281 cities—or 43%.
That number could be higher for retail, however, as those that indicated they allow cannabis businesses may have enacted zoning codes to allow only certain types of businesses (retail, production or processing), according to Nicas.
Data Source: Washington’s MRSC
About Washington’s Adult-Use Cannabis Program: Washington became the first state (along with Colorado) to legalize adult-use cannabis when voters passed ballot Initiative 502 in the Nov. 6, 2012, election. Adult-use sales began July 14, 2014.