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New marijuana retailer struggles to open amid Newport restrictions
NEWPORT — With a retail marijuana license, a signed five-year lease and permission from the state, the Hubert family has all they need to open a new marijuana retailer in Pend Oreille County: Newport Cannabis, at 204 W. Walnut St. in Newport.
All except a master land use permit, which the city has yet to approve due to unmet municipal location standards. At 110 Pine St. less than 1,000 feet away from 204 W. Walnut St. is TLC Learning, a non-licensed, non-operating childcare center owned by Ty Krohn. He not only serves on the city Planning Commission, but also owns Pend Oreille Cannabis Company, the only marijuana retailer in the county.
As a spokesperson for his family, Cory Hubert attended the Newport City Council’s meeting Monday, Oct. 6 to request a 600-foot setback reduction between Newport Cannabis and TLC Learning. This would allow Newport Cannabis to open despite Krohn’s childcare center.
“Our request is not about personal grievances,” Hubert said at the meeting. “It’s about ensuring that public authority is exercised fairly, that conflicts of interest are recognized and that businesses compete on merit, not influence.”
Krohn has two of the three retail marijuana licenses the state allows in Pend Oreille County, operating two branches of Pend Oreille Cannabis Company — one in Newport, the other in Ione. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board issued Newport Cannabis the third license in 2023 under the Cannabis Social Equity Program, which Hubert said was established to expand opportunities for those disproportionately impacted by past cannabis prohibition and enforcement in the state.
The one who applied for the license was Hubert’s father, Jerry. Per the Cannabis Social Equity Program’s registration requirements, Jerry has 51% ownership of Newport Cannabis and meets additional qualifications: He has lived in a disproportionately impacted area for more than a decade, he has a cannabis conviction and he also has a family member — his son, Hubert — with a cannabis conviction. Jerry’s conviction resulted in jail time. He co-owns Newport Cannabis with Hubert and Hubert’s own son, Cory Jr.
“Through our Social Equity license, we will make ongoing community investments, including school supply drives for local students and teachers, community beautification projects, partnerships with nonprofits that strengthen Newport’s quality of life,” Hubert said.
Last year, the Huberts signed a five-year lease at 204 W. Walnut St., a location approved by WSLCB in May 2024. After the Pend Oreille River School formerly vacated 110 Pine St. in July 2024, they submitted the first of two master land use applications to the city in August 2024.
The city denied the Huberts’ first application in September 2024, citing another non-licensed childcare center that had recently moved within 1,000 feet of 204 W. Walnut St.: Newport Family Co-Op on South Washington Avenue. Though Hubert had permission from WSLCB to open Newport Cannabis — setbacks do not apply to non-licensed childcare centers under state law — an attorney advised in November 2024 that the city would stop him if he did.
“Following that guidance, we attempted to reason with city representatives, but no progress was made,” Hubert said. “Ultimately, we chose to pause and wait for another opportunity to present itself.”
One did six months later, when Newport Family Co-Op announced its return to another location on May 16 this year.
The same day, Krohn formed TLC Learning. He was not immediately available for comment.
Hubert owns another marijuana retailer, Molecule Cannabis, in Davenport, Lincoln County. While not all the Huberts live in Newport, he said they visit often from the Chewelah area and intend to move to the city. Hubert’s daughter and son-in-law, a Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office deputy, live in town with their child, who has attended Newport Family Co-Op.
If it opens, Newport Cannabis will hire at least 15 area residents and generate more revenue for the city through a 3% total tax, Hubert said. Additionally, a second retailer in Newport would “encourage healthy market competition” with Pend Oreille Cannabis Company, improving service and pricing.
“Many local customers choose not to shop at the existing cannabis retailer for personal or service-related reasons,” Hubert said. “Providing an alternative option would help retain those sales within city limits. … When customers stay in town to make purchases, they also support restaurants, grocery stores and other local businesses.”
As an audience member, local realtor Dick Bockemuehl said at the meeting that while he was not opposed to the opening of Newport Cannabis, he was opposed to a setback reduction. He added that TLC Learning was well-funded and well-managed and would be an asset to the city once it opened.
Mark Zorica, Nathan Longly and other city council members agreed that they needed more time before voting on whether to grant Hubert’s request for a setback reduction between Newport Cannabis and TLC Learning.
“I don’t think there’s anybody here on this board that is against any businesses coming into our city,” Longly said at the meeting. “But, I would also say that each one of us are very invested in ensuring that the decisions that are made are done so in a cautious and growth-producing standpoint.”
