Members prepared to approve the 21st tribal cannabis compact and heard the status of 2023 agency request legislation the same day WSLCB officers led raids on two cannabis markets.
After a critical briefing was postponed, task force members offered high-level updates from two work groups and reiterated a need to collect appropriate data to produce a timely report.
Opinions differed on an ordinance requiring a “cannabis needs assessment” on industry equity, but other measures on city equity licenses and worker retention were less controversial.
After opening two rulemaking projects and accepting four of five petitions for cannabis rulemaking, board members then heard complaints and compliments in public comment.
Members learned about contemporary cannabinoid research from a UW official then defined and prioritized work group focus areas for reporting back to the full task force.
Work group members organized a presentation on the policy history and state arrest data related to residential home grows before drafting a recommendation to the task force.
Agency leaders talked about progress towards a social equity program, Canadian research on cannabis use and access, and various outreach engagements.
Members introduced themselves before debating the background and scope of their mandated report, though many were predisposed to laying the groundwork for legislation in 2023.
The committee reviewed background and amendments on multiple cannabis bills targeting worker retention and training; creation of a city social equity license; and a “Cannabis Needs Assessment.”
A legislative affairs update featured the first public remarks on draft request legislation for 2023 covering “THC regulation,” social equity, and subpoena authority for cannabis investigations.