Seattle to make another attempt at legalizing cannabis delivery

The city of Seattle will once again push for a legal cannabis delivery service, but this time for the entire state of Washington.

The proposal is expected to go before the legislature in the next few days, and will authorize deliveries across the state, with restrictions on transport and branding. In 2016, an equivalent proposal to establish a pilot delivery program in Seattle failed to pass.

The new text attempts to correct the flaws of the previous one, while presenting cannabis home delivery as an opportunity for public safety and cannabis tourism. City Attorney Pete Holmes explains that it's the next logical step in the legal cannabis industry and would potentially and immediately solve a public safety problem, driving under the influence.

«We know that people drink and drive, and smoke and drive, and all we can do to encourage them not to do that is risk reduction,» adding that it would give less mobile consumers (sick and elderly) access to medical cannabis, and therefore boost cannabis sales for stores. «When you have visitors who come from out of state without personal transportation, this is a measure that will promote cannabis tourism.».

The previous text limited deliveries to the City of Seattle and 5 licensed cannabis vendors within the city limits. Legislative pressure on the text had left it almost devoid of substance.

Holmes believes that the new proposal, which so far lacks support, should be broad enough to pass and get rid of the current limits on home cannabis delivery. It will ban bike deliveries (too much risk of robbery) and cars flocked with the company's sign.

«You don't want these guys to be as recognizable as a Domino's Pizza scooter. We specified that it had to be a delivery vehicle, with limits on the amount of product and cash».

Washington State had approved legal cannabis sales in 2012, but not delivery. Some unofficial delivery services have since appeared, and a sub-category Best Marijuana Delivery in Seattle even appeared on Yelp.