Where We Came From
2018

January

Lobby Day

February
LEAF goes live “with known defects.”
The Cannabis Alliance pressured the WSLCB to create, and then attended, a LEAF/WSLCB/Integrator Webinar and Q&A.
In the midst of Y502Khaos, The Alliance and our members present to the legislature on lab standardization.
March
Started offering Health Benefits to members via Lifestyle Health Plans
Officially became members of NCIA’s Allied Associations Program. Linking us with cannabis associations around the nation.


March/April
Started engaging with WSU on the beginnings of more robust research regarding cannabis impairment.
Participated in AWB’s Spring Meeting on a panel titled “Cannabis and the Modern Workplace” Featuring Mitzi Vaughn, General Counsel for The Alliance.
Omnibus Rulemaking happening at the WLSCB including Volume Discounts. Loudly objected resulting in its removal.


June
The Cannabis Alliance participates in WSDA’s Organic Standards Advisory Committee.
The Alliance in the movies! Premier of “Oberfelder’s Cannabis Farm, The Good, The Bad, The Happy” in Bellingham. Danielle Rosellsion and Caitlein Ryan both appear in this film about the challenges and biases facing cannabis farmers.
Participated in NCIA’s Lobby Days in Washington DC as well as tagged along with Oregon Cannabis Association’s DC Lobby Day.


Summer
Trivia Nights begin!
Waste Committee starts making headlines. “The goal is to eliminate single-use plastic from our industry,” Lammers said



Fall/Winter
Host of the 1st purchasing managers seminar in WA State.
Reinterpretation of the rules by the LCB on Marijuana infused Edibles results in CORE, WACA and The Cannabis Alliance coming together for the first time.
Budtender Education Seminar at Lemonhaze.
The Cannabis Alliance hosts The Gong Show
For 2019 and 2020 look at current initiatives and priorities!



2017


Spokane Emergency Ban


…so many workgroups (Quality Assurance, Packaging & Labeling, Traceability…), hosted a WA State Cannabis Lab Roundtable, 1st WSLCB Cannabis Advisory Council (CAC) Meeting
1st Inter-lab Round Robin Study completed and published




2016

Participation in WSLCB’s Quality Assurance Workgroup begins





2015
Summer
Fall/Winter









2014


CAUSE-M is founded in Yakima, WA in response to Yakima County Commissioners Voting to Ban Cannabis Businesses
Danielle Rosellison starts the 502 Google Group to connect licensees.

CBC joins with more people and officially becomes Washington Marijuana Association (WMA)

March
The WSLCB issues the state’s first producer / processing license to Kouchlock Productions.

July
The first retail store in Seattle, Cannabis City, opens.

Fall
Meeting of the Minds. Seed is planted for strategic partnering between CCSE, CAUSE-M, NWPPR and WMA. A partnership that will eventually turn into The Cannabis Alliance.

Winter
CCSE wins Best Industry Association awards at DOPE Industry awards.
2013
The WSLCB is writing rules on i502 implementation.
First iteration of Washington Marijuana Association starts in a former dispensary in Ballard. They meet monthly and call the organization the CannaBusiness Coalition (CBC).
Northwest Producer, Processors and Retailers Association (NWPPR) also forms around this time.
The CCSE is holding workshops on 280e reform, among other things.


2012
City of Seattle Responds to Federal Government and protesters march to the Federal Courthouse and demonstrate.
I-502 is approved by voters.



2011




January
Regular Session SENATE BILL 5073, Concerning the medical use of cannabis, is introduced. Sponsored by Jeanne Kohl-Welles.
April
Governor vetoes large sections of the bill. “Gregoire’s partial veto Friday leaves cities and counties without the clarity they had sought as to how to deal with dispensaries.” US Attorney for the Eastern District of WA Michael C. Ormsby ordered all dispensaries in Spokane to cease operations. Most complied, but several owners who refused were arrested.

May
Initiative 502 submitted to the Washington Secretary of State.

July
The Seattle City Council passed Ordinance 123661 establishing a regulatory framework for the growing number of dispensaries in Seattle. The Council unanimously passed its own ordinance because legislative efforts to address medical marijuana foundered.

Fall of 2011
City of Seattle sent a blanket letter to cannabis business owners in the city asking for a professional resource to come to with questions. Those who answered the call formed a new organization called the Coalition for Cannabis Standards & Ethics (CCSE).

2009

2003
1998
February 26, Initiative 692 was filed by Robert K. Killian of Seattle. 260,335 signatures were collected to qualify it to be placed on the ballot.
Although the law did not explicitly allow dispensaries, many were established and often went ignored by law enforcement.