Washington State issues its first retail pot-growing license

(Image credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Washington State's Liquor Control Board issued the state's first recreational marijuana growing license to 32-year-old ganjapreneur Sean Green. Green — and yes, that's his real name — already runs medical marijuana dispensaries in Spokane and Shoreline, and he plans to use his first-past-the-post grower's license to open a 21,000-square-foot facility in Spokane. Washington won't allow non-medical pot sales until this summer, but Green got a leg up on his 7,000-plus competitors by following the rules. He "hustled as if he was competing at Sochi," liquor board member Ruthann Kurose tells The Seattle Times.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.