Warning letters sent by the City of Seattle to more than 300 medical marijuana outlets last week sent fear through the MMJ community. As we reported yesterday, some medical marijuana proponents fear that patients will be left without access to the medicine they depend on. “Countless patients who rely on my services will have nowhere to go if my shop is shut down,” said Karl Keich, owner of the Seattle Medical Marijuana Association, in a press release distributed to local media outlets.

The letters in question, signed by Denise Movius, the deputy director of Seattle’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, and Faith Lumsden, the compliance director for Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development, warn businesses conducting “major marijuana activity” – defined as involving “more than 45 marijuana plants or 72 ounces of usable marijuana” – since before Nov. 16, 2013 that they have until the middle of next year to obtain a license from the Washington State Liquor Control Board. The letters cite a law created by the Seattle City Council in late 2013 that require medical marijuana dispensaries to get the license.

The only problem: That license doesn’t exist yet. (Dominic Holden, then of The Stranger, reported on the City Council’s questionable vote back in April.)

So what’s the deal? And why now? Seattle Weekly spoke with Movius today to get the lowdown.

Before we get to Movius, however, it’s important to note the part of the letter that’s not getting much attention. Yes, it warns Seattle’s 300-plus medical marijuana dispensaries that they have until July of 2015 to obtain a license that does not yet exist, but it also leaves some wiggle room. Here’s what the letter says, in full:

“Businesses that have been conducting major marijuana activity since before November 16, 2013 have until July 1, 2015 (or January 1, 2016, depending on action by the state legislature), to either (1) obtain a state-issued license or (2) stop conducting major marijuana activity.”

According to Movius, the point of the letters was proactive education and nothing more (a contention many will surely scoff at).

“The letters were sent out of concern that many businesses who obtained a license after Nov. 2013 were unaware of the changes and impending deadlines for major marijuana businesses,” Movius tells Seattle Weekly. “Our hope was that this letter would provide the facts and resources available that would allow businesses to make a responsible decision as they move ahead.”

But what about the fact that the license in question does not yet exist?

“The dates set by the City Council, which are in place today, provide ample time for the State to take action and provide some guidance both for the businesses and local jurisdictions,” Movius assures us.

In other words, Seattle is moving ahead with its plan and placing its faith in the state Legislature.

Which, based on recent history, seems like more than enough reason for medical marijuana businesses to be freaked out.