Marijuana retailer purchases former Crossroads Nursery site, plans shop

An effort to establish a retail marijuana shop just west of the Washington-Idaho border on the Pullman-Moscow Highway took an advance recently with the retailer acquiring the site. The building and property sold for $750,000.

The retail shop has been proposed at the former Crossroads Nursery site on the north side of the highway east of the Pullman-Moscow Airport Road.

A conditional use permit for the shop was approved by the Whitman County Board of Adjustment in October 2016, and the shop, once opened, will be approximately 4,500 feet from the Idaho border. Marijuana is still illegal in Idaho.

“It met all the code requirements, so it got approved,” said County Commissioner Art Swannack, when asked about its proximity to Idaho.

“I'm not traveling that far,” added Commissioner Michael Largent, jokingly.

The retailer, Premium Roast, LLC, applied for the permit in September after another retailer applied earlier in the year and did not go forward with its application.

County Planner Alan Thomson said he is not sure when the new retail shop will open, as the retailer is waiting for a current occupant to leave the premises.

“They're waiting until someone vacates,” he said. “They own it, and the other person has six months to get out of there.”

Thomson said the person currently using the space grows greenhouse vegetables.

Other than the need for the vacation, Thomson said the owners also need to do some sprucing up before the business is ready.

“They've got some things to do to the building,” he said. “But with the conditional use permit, they're good to go.”

The marijuana retail shop will be the second one on the Pullman-Moscow Highway. Bud Hut opened last year at the former Wawawai Canyon Winery site about halfway between Pullman and Moscow.

With the Crossroads Nursery site and the Bud Hut both established, the county's allotment of at-large spots for retail shops will be filled. The state Liquor and Cannabis Board for Whitman County originally allowed one at-large marijuana retailer, but that was upped to two last year.

When asked about how the retail shop's proximity to the stalled Hawkins development could impact that project if it ever went forward, Commissioner Largent gave a suggestion to the Boise-based company.

“If they put a bakery in there, it might be more successful.”

The marijuana retailer was unable to be reached for comments about its plans.