Marijuana License Applicants & Capitol Christmas Tree

Marijuana License Applicants & Capitol Christmas Tree

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

Washington is one of two states in the nation now to have legalized over the counter sale of marijuana. On November 18th the application period for processing, producing and selling the the substance was opened. On Tuesday the state Liquor Control Board released a list of 929 applications that had been submitted. 444 applications were submitted for growing the plant, 327 applications for processing, and 158 applications were submitted for retail sale of marijuana. While there is no limit on the number of growers or processors, the board says it will only license up to 334 marijuana retail shops statewide. Deadline for submitting applications is December 19.

Colville National Forest ranger, Robert Sanchez, talks about the recent cross-country travels of the Washington state 88 foot Engelmann Spruce tree, that was chosen as the Capitol Christmas Tree this year, as it arrived this week in D.C..

SANCHEZ: We’ve arrived from our 22 day adventure across the country sharing Washington’s good nature. Out of these three weeks we’ve made the 26 stops - it’s been fantastic.

It was a 4,000 mile trip for the tree and it’s ambassadors from Washington and Sanchez estimates that they impacted or discussed the People’s Tree with roughly 25 thousand people, and that it wasn’t without a few emotional moments, especially for one gentleman in Flagstaff, Arizona.

SANCHEZ: We found out that he was able to find the signature of his grandchild on the truck, and his grandchild lives in Spokane, Washington.

On the evening of December 3 a Washington student and Speaker of the House John Boehner will light the tree and showcase Washington state’s historical, cultural and natural beauty.

That’s Washington Ag Today.

I’m Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.