WA House COG - Committee Meeting - (January 14, 2022) - HB 1855 - Public Hearing
Testimony on a craft cannabis endorsement was weighted in favor of those who saw the proposal increasing fairness in the cannabis market, but others were not so sure.
Testimony on a craft cannabis endorsement was weighted in favor of those who saw the proposal increasing fairness in the cannabis market, but others were not so sure.
Some licensees, WSLCB staff, and prevention advocates encouraged lawmakers to pass request legislation on cannabinoid regulation, while other licensees preferred a competing bill.
Staff described the impact the internal Agency Policy Work Group was having on policy and interpretive statements, agency request legislation, and rulemaking at WSLCB.
A majority of speakers favored legislation to create a cannabis commodity commission, but questions remained about costs, goals, and the inclusiveness with which the bill was drafted.
After pushback for not acting earlier, council members formally and unanimously endorsed all of the recommendations of the Washington State Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis.
Board members expressed concerns about prospects for legislative action around synthesized cannabinoids, including mention of a potential competing bill.
In their final meeting of 2021, board members discussed a recent ride-along, a legislative proposal to overhaul the board from a cannabis trade association, and “collateral enforcement.”
Three senators offered their thoughts around cannabis policy and answered specific questions about potential bill subjects as well as the format of the 2022 legislative session.
The board and agency leadership reflected on that week’s launch of the CCRS as well as how fixes and stakeholder engagement would be approached going forward.
The board approved filing proposed cannabis testing rule changes, hosted a public hearing on regulation of cannabinoids, and responded to several public comments.