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Home My WebLink About2026-08-12_WednesdayWorkshop_CannabisRetailCannabis Retail Draft Standards Lewis County Board of County Commissioners Workshop August 12, 2026 Staff Presentation Agenda 1.Background 2.Budget Overview 3.Outreach 4.Proposal Overview •Location •Distribution •Building Design •Signs Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 2August 12, 2026 Process •BOCC Request •Draft code to allow cannabis retail •Do no include cannabis production •Planning Commission •Workshop – April 14 & 28 •Public Hearing – May 26 •Testimony •Recommendation •Board of County Commissioners •Workshop – August 12 •Reviews Planning Commission recommendation •Asks staff questions •Public Hearing – August 18 •Testimony •Deliberates and makes final decision Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 3August 12, 2026 Revenue Options 4 •Background on county revenue limits •Options for new revenue •Expenditure reductions Lewis County Planning Commission - WorkshopApril 14, 2026 Revenue Challenges 5 Why limit additional cuts? Measures taken to manage within resources: •Lewis County has made significant reductions – 23 positions from 2023 to 2025 •The county is down 50 full time employees since 2008 •Implementation of the Cost Allocation Plan •Implementation of systems to create efficiencies (e.g., SmartGov) •Challenges: •Service impacts related to state mandates •State mandates do not come with new ongoing revenue •Insurance costs - Tort reform needed •Public Defense standards (mandated) Lewis County Planning Commission - WorkshopApril 14, 2026 April 14, 2026 County Budget Overview - Revenue Lewis County Planning Commission - Workshop 6 •All taxing powers are granted (and restricted) by the state constitution and statutes (RCW titles 36, 82, 84, etc.) •Property taxes are the largest single ongoing revenue source for the County (RCW 84.55) •The second largest revenue source is sales and use tax, rates are capped by statute •Lewis County seeks federal and state grants (grants are generated by tax revenue) •New development generates revenue from fees and new taxes Cannabis Revenue 7 •Cannabis retail is a source of revenue not currently utilized by Lewis County •Increased revenue distribution from the state based on population and retail sales, along with standard sales and use tax for retail in unincorporated Lewis County •Two separate components: •Per capita share distributed to all cities and counties that do not prohibit cannabis businesses. •Retail share distributed to cities and counties where cannabis retailers are located, in proportion to statewide cannabis revenues Source: https://leg.wa.gov/jlarc/reports/2023/cannabisRevenues/f_01/default.html#part1 Lewis County Planning Commission - WorkshopApril 14, 2026 August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 8 August 12, 2026 Cannabis Local Distribution Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 9 August 12, 2026 Outreach 10 Should cannabis retail be allowed in Lewis County Yes No Undecided Lewis County BOCC - Workshop Planning Commission Recommendation •State requirements •Allowances •Standards Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 12August 12, 2026 August 12, 2026 Cannabis Retail State Requirements Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 13 •Licensing •Security •Separation •Signage Read the full in RCW 69.50 WAC 314-55 No County License August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 14 •Repeal Chapter 5.20 to remove duplicative County licensing and application requirements •Master Site Plan Land Use permit •Rely on WSLCB licensing (RCW 69.50.331, WAC 314-55) •Key components of State rules: •Applicant vetting: ownership, finances, and background checks •Location review: buffers and local jurisdiction compliance •Security and premises requirements (surveillance, access control) •Operational compliance: tracking, recordkeeping, and state rules No Production or Processing August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 15 •Strike production and processing from code •Remove cannabis production and processing from allowed uses •Retain retail cannabis use only Change Marijuana to Cannabis August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 16 •Updated terminology consistent with the WSLCB •Consolidated definitions under "cannabis" •Retail sales only, no production or processing August 12, 2026 Location Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 17 2 in Packwood in the CBZ and MU zone district 2 Retail locations in FC zone district 1 Retail location at HWY12 FC zone district 1 or possibly 2 in Onalaska CBZ and MU zone district 1,000 ft Separation August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 18 •State buffer separation already in effect: •Elementary & secondary schools •Playgrounds •Recreation centers & facilities •Child care centers •Public parks •Public transit centers •Libraries •Game arcades (admission restricted to 21+) •Community centers •Detention/correction facilities •Hospitals •Places of worship Building Design August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 19 •Neutral colors only (white, gray, brown; low -intensity) •No bright, neon, or reflective finishes •Non-reflective glass; no visibility into interior •Use screening (e.g., frosted glass, film) as needed •Windows must meet safety codes •Lighting must follow typical county standards Signs August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 20 •Exterior signage limited to 2 signs, max 1,600 sq. in. each (3,200 sq. in. total) •Sign content limited to business name and basic lawful description •No slang, youth -appealing terms, or cannabis imagery allowed •Window decals allowed if compliant with standards •Offsite signage is prohibited August 12, 2026 Staff Recommendation 21 Staff recommend approval of the Planning Commission recommendation to allow cannabis retail pursuant to Ordinance 1379 exhibit A. Lewis County BOCC - Workshop 22 https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/community- development/comprehensive-plan-and-development- regulation-amendments/cannabis -code-update/ Project Webpage Written testimony to Natalie Kamieniecki natalie.kamieniecki@lewiscountywa.gov 360 -740 -2606 August 12, 2026 Lewis County BOCC - Workshop Public Hearing August 18, 2026 10:00am, BOCC Hearings Room