Under Initiative 502, allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in Washington, the State Liquor Control Board will allocate retail licenses statewide.

Any retail location must be sited at least 1,000 feet away from places where children congregate, such as:  parks, playgrounds, schools, daycares, community centers, libraries, etc. Although Mercer Island qualifies for one store based on population, the city has determined that no retail location meeting the 1000-foot rule exists within a commercial zone.

The only areas zoned for commercial business on Mercer Island are outlined in red, gold, and purple. The light tan shading depicts parcels within 1,000 feet of various disallowed entities under the new law.