WSLCB Board Member Silently Departs, Patient Database Confuses, and Tacoma MMJ Suit Sees Success

Tobias Coughlin-Bogue | Jul 7, 2016

A lot of big things happened in the Washington weed world recently. Well, one of them not so recently. Apparently the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) has been operating at 66.6 percent for four months. Board member Russ Hauge resigned at the beginning of March, and the board has been continuing on with just its two remaining members—Jane Rushford and Ruthann Kurose—since then.

While rumors abound about just why he left, the official word is that he stepped down to pursue other work he was more interested in, according to WSLCB spokesperson Mikhail Carpenter. The resignation was not publicly announced per Hauge’s own request, said Carpenter, but the website was changed to reflect his departure. I guess it just took everyone this long to notice. Carpenter added that, until Governor Jay Inslee appoints a third board member, the board will still have a quorum as long as both members vote in agreement. So, essentially, shit can still get done. Regardless, an odd surprise.

WSLCB Board Member Silently Departs, Patient Database Confuses, and Tacoma MMJ Suit Sees Success