First marijuana grower approved for county

Whitman County commissioners Monday were informed of the state Liquor Control Board approval of the county’s first licensed marijuana producer.

The marijuana producer approved is RL Farms on Highway 26 near Colfax. The license is submitted to Garrett Lunders of Asotin for marijuana production.

When Lunders’ application was submitted to commissioners, they chose to take no action as they have with all 12 applications that have come across their desks.

The license allows a maximum of 2,100 square feet of production of marijuana for wholesale to marijuana processor licensees and to other marijuana producer licensees.

The producer has 15 days from the date of the traceability system access to have all seeds, clones, non-flowering marijuana plants and plant tissue physically on the licensed premises. Within 24 hours the producers must record all seeds, clones, non-flowering marijuana plants and plant tissue that enters the facility during this 15-day time frame into the traceability system. The traceability system access began Aug. 20.

No flowering marijuana plants may be brought into the facility during the 15 days. After the 15 days, the producer may only start plants from seed, plant tissue or create clones from a marijuana plant located physically on the licensed premise or purchase marijuana seeds, plant tissue, clones or plants from another licensed producer.

No one under 21 is permitted on the premises and signs indicating this are to be posted on the property.

Commissioners also received the 13th marijuana producer application on Monday. The application is for Rock City Enterprises at 1201 Squires Road. Michael Dean Buergel is the applicant.

The commissioners said they again will take no action.