WA LIC - Class - Prevention Voices (January 5, 2021) - Summary
Advocates learned about Washington's legislative process from a Legislative Information Center staffer including specific steps to track and participate virtually in the 2021 session.
Advocates learned about Washington's legislative process from a Legislative Information Center staffer including specific steps to track and participate virtually in the 2021 session.
Goals for the 2021 Washington state legislative session, which begins Monday January 11th, were articulated by WSLCB agency leadership and Cannabis Advisory Council members.
An Interpretive and Policy Statement Program was launched at WSLCB, emergency rules were extended, location compliance certificates were adopted, and citizens addressed the Board.
Board members heard legislative and rulemaking updates as well as mentions of agency coordination with social equity and prevention stakeholders - and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Though not unanimous, the task force voted to focus on anti-Black racism in their operating principles before broadly discussing the equity program and establishing three work groups.
A pair of rulemaking updates and a citizen request for dedicated cannabis business licensing forms were the last topics heard during the final board meeting of 2020.
A history of racial discrimination in the American drug war and Washington state’s legal industry was described by a task force member, guest presenter, and commenters from inside and outside the industry.
Public health researchers and prevention advocates discussed a report associating increased health risks with concentrated cannabis products and ways to enact policy change.
During the annual state prevention summit, public health and prevention practitioners heard “A Couple of Things About Cannabis” and got an early look at a report on cannabis potency.
WSLCB’s leading substance use prevention staffer provided their first in-depth update in months, pushing back against temporary policy allowances and raising public health concerns.