Cannabis dispensary bill clears House committee

A bill clarifying Washington's 13-year old medical marijuana bill, which would provide greater protections to patients and providers, made it out of its House committee this morning, bringing it one step closer to the governor's desk, and law.

The bill — Senate Bill 5073 — passed the Senate last month. It would regulate the state's burgeoning cannabis dispensary industry, which is currently operating without the protection of law. Last week, Scott Shupe, a former owner of a local dispensary, was convicted of multiple drug trafficking charges stemming from his duties at Change, the dispensary. This has led many local dispensary owners to close their own doors, fearing the same thing could happen to them.

But if the Legislature clarifies the law and licenses dispensaries, the medical cannabis landscape could change.