More than 800 entrepreneurs in Washington have applied for recreational marijuana licenses since the state began accepting applications early last week
Surprisingly, though, only 200 of the applications are for cannabis stores – significantly less than the 334 retail licenses up for grabs.
If the board receives fewer than 334 license applications by the cutoff date of Dec. 19, it could prolong the application window.
The Liquor Control Board will issue three types of licenses: marijuana producer, marijuana processor and marijuana retailer.
An official from the board did not say how many applications had been received to grow or produce marijuana, and there is no cap on the number of licenses that will be awarded to these businesses.
Businesses cannot hold all three licenses simultaneously. However, a licensee may hold both a producer and a processor license.
Retailers, on the other hand, must be independent.
Washington received more than 300 cannabis business applications on the first day of the process alone. Each applicant must pay a $250 fee.