State health-care regulators have opened a preliminary investigation into two medical professionals who were issuing medical-marijuana authorizations at Hempfest. The investigation was self-initiated by the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday based on an Aug. 21 story in The Seattle Times, which described a reporter’s ability to get a medical-marijuana authorization based on complaints of [...]

In the Absence of Government Regulation, the Local Medical-Marijuana Industry Increasingly Is Trying to Professionalize the Industry With Such Self-Policing Measures As “Best Practices” Manuals, Quality-Control Testing Laboratories and Training Classes. A dozen medical-marijuana entrepreneurs listened intently during a unique four-hour class that detailed how they could stay out of trouble, serve sick patients and [...]

The City Council voted on Monday to establish a municipal licensing and regulation system for medical marijuana distribution in Seattle under a new Washington state law that takes effect later this week. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has indicated he will sign the ordinance, which is at odds with a series of new restrictions and bans [...]

Seattle is taking the first steps toward regulating medical-marijuana dispensaries, putting itself on an increasingly lonely pot-friendly island as other Puget Sound cities move toward outright bans. On Wednesday, the Seattle City Council will consider whether to require that medical-marijuana operations get a city business license and comply with city land-use, fire-safety and other rules. [...]