The Washington State Liquor Control Board is over saturated with marijuana retail, producing and processing license applications now that the application deadline has closed.
And although staff continues to update the long list of license applicants with prospective locations, it’s clear Kirkland is an attractive place for those looking to make a buck off recreational marijuana.
As of Jan. 7, 33 marijuana retail license applications were submitted for various locations around Kirkland, despite the law that states Kirkland is allowed two marijuana stores. The Liquor Control Board has received 12 marijuana producing license applications and 14 marijuana processing license applications for locations in Kirkland.
The most popular location for a potential marijuana store is the controversial 1818 Market St. address, which currently has five hopeful applicants using the address for licensing purposes. The property owner placed the 660-square-foot office space for sale after learning business owners were hoping to use that location for a marijuana shop.
The property price was originally $769,000 but has since jumped to $850,000, according to Skyline Properties, Inc.
Several Kirkland residents were upset about this specific location because the commercial zone is in a heavily residential area, surrounded by homes.
“Kirkland is a progressive city, but progressive does not mean ‘anything goes,’” said Kirkland resident Kirstin Larson. “Marijuana businesses do not belong in residential neighborhoods. City leaders need to take proactive steps to ensure dispensaries are located in safe, commercial, well-lit locations. The contrast is stark — the application for 12700 NE 124th … makes so much more sense than Market Street — it is commercial, surrounded by other businesses, not bordered by a neighborhood, out of the footpath of kids.”
At least three other applicants have used different Market Street addresses as well.
“There are many other applications also for sites all along Market Street — none of these sites are appropriate as there is no buffer between Market Street businesses and homes,” Larson said. “Market Street is in the middle of a neighborhood, filled with walkers and kids riding bikes to and fro.”
Another popular spot is at 12525 Totem Lake Boulevard NE, with three applicants listing the address. The address is in front of Totem Lake Malls and appears to be a vacant space in the west part of the mall parking lot near Key Bank.
The other marijuana retail license applicants have used other addresses that spread across Kirkland but have a heavy concentration in the Totem Lake Business District.
As the board goes through the licensing process, which may take between 60 and 90 days according to Liquor Control Board spokesman Mikhail Carpenter, several factors will be considered for each individual application.
Operating and floor plans, personal and criminal history statement, fingerprint cards, identification, business structure forms, lease information, purchase agreements, source of funds statement, copies of bank statements and affidavits are all documents the board will be sifting through during this time.
At some point in the licensing process, the Liquor Control Board will notify the city or local authority that a marijuana license application was submitted for that city. The head of that city then has 20 days to respond with an approval, objection or no response letter for each individual application.
City of Kirkland spokeswoman Marie Jensen said the city’s Licensing Division will be notified, in which they’ll send the application to the planning department, police department and city attorney’s office.
After the city sends the Liquor Control Board their letter, the board will return to their investigation and if the license is approved, the city will be notified again. If the business meets the city’s criteria then the business will need to apply for a business license with the city, another sometimes lengthy process.
“We have not ever received an official notification per their process,” Jensen said. “They haven’t sent us anything to comment on.”
Jensen said the city staff were informed of the applications using the 1818 Market St. from the raw data the board updates every Tuesday.
She said the city has had internal discussions on whether or not they’ll publicize when they are notified by the Liquor Control Board on such business applications.
After a final inspection is done by a Liquor Control Board officer, a lottery will be done for those business owners who have listed the same address as their hopeful marijuana store location.
Carpenter said details of these lotteries will be issued as public information but doesn’t anticipate when that could be.
“There are 5,000 applications, each one is unique,” he said. “They’re being dealt with in the order received.”
The public comment period is still open, according to Carpenter. But Larson urges the community to give input to the city of Kirkland because they ultimately have authority.
“… The city should be helping the state understand where these businesses make the most sense here in Kirkland, rather than taking a ‘do nothing’ stance,” Larson said. “I-502 is written to allow for input from municipalities just for this reason.”
To submit comments, email licensingretail@liq.wa.gov or write to Washington State Liquor Control Board, Licensing and Regulation, P.O. Box 43098, Olympia, WA 98504-3098.
Kirkland City Council members can be contacted through their individual emails that can be found at www.kirklandwa.gov.
The following is a list of marijuana license applications received by the Liquor Control Board as of Jan. 7. All addresses are for Kirkland.
Marijuana retail license applicants (total 34):
• McCormick Green
1818 Market Street
• Biloxi Green
1818 Market St.
• Mind’s Eye
1818 Market St.
• Maison Botanique
1818 Market St.
• Green Bee
12700 NE 124th St., Ste. 1
• Ivi Enterprise LLC
11308 124th Ave. NE, Unit 301
• W&L Holdings LLC
11509 Juanita Drive NE
• 502
11516 124th Ave. NE
• Buddy’s Bud
12525 Totem Lake Blvd NE
• Cema Investments
8520 122nd Ave. NE 80th St
• Good News Everyone
12642 NE 85th St.
• Jackpot
13100 NE 70th Place
• Kush
12525 Totem Lake Blvd NE
• One Love Organics
1104 120th Ave. NE. Ste A
12504 116th Ave. NE Ste A
• Organic Gardens
11014 120TH AVE NE STE B
12504 116TH AVE NE STE B
• Recreational Marijuana King
1431 Market St.
• Reocapital
12106 NE 85th
• Resolute Partners
1313 Market St.
• THC4Less
12403 NE 124TH ST
•Twisted Sacks Corp
1417 Market St.
•420 PM Corp
13100 NE 70th Place
13112 NE 70th Place
• Buzz U
1818 Market St.
• Cameron Deak
11236 115th Place NE
• Emerald City Botanicals
10856 NE 108th St.
• Fireplace
1818 Market St.
• Grean Sea LLC
12525 Totem Lake Boulevard NE
• Hector Degner
11901 124th Ave. NE
• Josh’s Joint
13205 NE 124th St #124
• Kush
12525 Totem Lake Boulevard NE
• Okeemomo LLC
11901 124th Ave. NE
• The Garden LLC
11341 106th Ave NE ste. B
• The Novel Tree
825 Seventh Ave.
• Twisted Greens Corp
13114 NE 70th Place
• W&L Holdings
11509 Juanita Drive NE
Marijuana producer license applicants (total 12):
• In Good Spirits
13613 NE 126th Place, Ste. 350
• Tetra Consulting LLC
825 Seventh Ave.
• Think About It
11851 108th Ave. NE
• Seattle Cannabis Kitchens
6227 102nd Place NE
• Blue Moose
6105 111th Place NE
• Turnkey, LLC
12700 NE 124th St. Ste. 16
•Wowmarijuana
13263 119th Ave. NE
• Lester Farms LLC
13600 NE 128th St Ste. D
• P and R Processing LLC
9260 124th Ave.
• Turnkey, LLC
12700 NE 124th St. Ste. 16
• Vajradhara Products
13649 NE 126th Place
• Leganjafairy LLC
13536 NE 126th Place
Marijuana processor license applicants (total 14):
• Wakalolo
723 Ninth Ave., Ste. A
• Chad Grospe
1524 Market St.
• Recreation, Health and Exercise Consulting
14253 23rd Ave. NE, B-301
• Leganjafairy LLC
13536 NE 126th Place
• Seattle Cannabis Kitchens
6227 102nd Place NE
• Tetra Consulting
825 Seventh Ave.
• Turnkey, LLC
12700 NE 124th St. Ste. 16
• Wowmarijuana
13263 119th Ave. NE
• Hoh Labs
13600 NE 126th Place Ste. D1
• Lester Farms LLC
13600 NE 128th St. Ste. D1
• P and R Processing LLC
9260 124th Ave. NE
• Turnkey, LLC
12700 NE 124th St. Ste. 16
• Vajradhara Products
13649 NE 126th Place
• Verdelux Chocolates
13621 NE 126th Place St. 425
