TACOMA — Thousands of prospective marijuana growers and sellers applied for licenses late last year, but some are having second thoughts.
The question for state regulators: Should dropouts get their $250 application fees back?
Applicants were told clearly that the fees were nonrefundable. But the state Liquor Control Board is seriously considering giving refunds, figuring it is a small price to pay to avoid fights.
After all, staff told the board last week, many people applied only to find themselves in areas with local bans or moratoriums on the new voter-approved recreational pot businesses. Or they found their location wasn’t far enough away from restricted sites like schools and parks.
“The sooner we get them out of the system so our resources aren’t focused on keeping those applications alive or, frankly, dealing with disgruntled applicants” the better, board member Chris Marr said. He sees refunds as an incentive, however small, for wavering applicants to pull out.