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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature. Austin Jenkins is the Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) weekly public affairs program "Inside Olympia."

Washington Pot Logo Viewed As Promotional By Critics

Washington State Liquor Control Board

Washington’s Liquor Control Board has been inundated with feedback on its proposed marijuana regulations. The deadline to submit comments was Monday. The Board is writing the rules for legalized cannabis. Among the many concerns: the state’s new pot logo.

It’s called the Produced in Washington icon. It’s an outline of the state with a marijuana leaf in the middle. The idea was to require this label be affixed to any package containing marijuana sold at a retail store.

But not everyone thinks this grown-and-processed-in-Washington logo is a good idea. In feedback to the Liquor Control Board, Alison Holcomb – who led the legalization campaign – said the image could brand Washington as “The Marijuana State.”

The state’s pot consultant, Mark Kleiman, agrees it’s promotional. “That does seem to be closer to endorsement than is probably wise for something that A) will be against federal law and B) poses a health risk. I mean I wouldn’t like to see that logo on beer either.”

The Liquor Control Board says the logo along with many other aspects of the proposed regulations are under review. In fact, the state plans to delay issuing the final draft rules by two weeks in order to digest the more than 200 comments received.

On the Web:

Initial draft rules for marijuana - Washington State Liquor Control Board https://lcb.box.com/initial-draft-rules

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."