What YOU Need to Know About Legalized Marijuana

Marijuana is now legal in the State of Washington; however, that does not mean that "anything goes". There are still laws and regulations in place that will govern who can buy marijuana, how much marijuana you are allowed to buy, and who can provide, sell, and grow marijuana. If I-502 has you a little hazy, here are some important facts YOU need to know about legalized marijuana in Washington.

•  Anyone over the age of 21 can buy legalized marijuana and you do not have to be a resident of the State of Washington
•  Legalized marijuana will likely be up for sale sometime in the spring of 2014 if all goes well.
• Only authorized retail stores will be allowed to sell legalized marijuana and the number of those stores will be limited based on a formula that distributes the number of locations proportionate to the most populous cities in each county.
• Retail marijuana stores will be open between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 a.m.
• The cost is estimated to be $12 per gram, but taxes may push this price even higher.
• A single transaction will be limited to one ounce of usable marijuana, sixteen ounces of marijuana infused product in solid form or seventy two ounces of marijuana infused product in liquid form.
• You will not be allowed to give marijuana away to another person. This will be considered delivering marijuana and will be a felony offense.
• In Washington, you will only be allowed to smoke marijuana in your home. If you smoke in public, you will face a civil fine. Some entrepreneurs are looking into creating "private clubs".
• I-502 only allows for possession of marijuana and does not give you the license to grow your own marijuana. Growing one plant is still considered manufacturing marijuana and will be classified as a felony.
• Driving under the influence of marijuana is still illegal and can lead to a DUI. If you are pulled over with more than .5 nanograms per mil of active THC in your blood then you can be charged with DUI.

Hemp Beer is Here and Washington Brewers Celebrate

The Seattle breweries were bound to get stoked about Washington's new legalized marijuana industry. This month, Redhook Brewery, in collaboration with Seattle's Hilliard's Beer, has announced the release of a new hemp beer—appropriately titled "Joint Effort". This beer is the brewers' way of celebrating the legalization of marijuana in Washington State.

“We’re really excited to release Joint Effort with Redhook because we have a lot of respect for how they helped shape craft beer in Washington. It’s the first collaboration beer either of us has done with another brewery and it’s fitting they started in Ballard a few blocks from where we are. Voting to legalize marijuana use in Washington is another example of the pioneering spirit that makes this state so great.”

                                              ---Ryan Hilliard, co-founder of Hilliard's Beer

Joint Effort is a session ale brewed with hemp seeds. It is dry-hopped with Zeus, Cascade, Summit hops, and has a resinous hop aroma that is balanced nicely by the nuttiness from the hemp seeds. To add to the fun, Joint Effort will be poured by a handle tap shaped like a bright yellow bong. This fun beer will only be available in Washington State and is sure to add some festivity to the newly legalized marijuana market.

If you live in the State of Washington and want to sample this fun and unique brew, call your local pub to see if they carry it. Joint Effort will be available on tap throughout the summer in Washington and then in 22-ounce bottles.