WSLCB - Board Caucus
(February 16, 2021)

Tuesday February 16, 2021 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Observed
WSLCB Enforcement Logo

The three-member board of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) meets weekly in caucus to discuss current issues and receive invited briefings from agency staff.

Observations

WSLCB Policy and Rules staff discussed circulating drafts of an agency policy statement on Delta-8-THC and their 2021 policy agenda, plus an imminent rulemaking project to reconsider the applicant criminal history point system.

Here are some observations from the Tuesday February 16th Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus.

My top 3 takeaways:

  • Policy and Rules Manager Kathy Hoffman mentioned the agency’s first policy statement on Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an isomer of the legal and common Delta-9-THC, had been circulated to “associations.”
  • Hoffman also noted that a second version of the agency’s policy agenda for 2021 had been sent to cannabis and alcohol stakeholders.
    • The agency policy agenda was set broadly by board priorities which were last considered on January 12th after an extended gap between planning sessions going back to July 2018. As appointment of a new Board Chair in 2021 has been expected since December 2020, an effort to maintain most positions and projects was agreed to until the new chair was acclimated to the role and could contribute their prerogatives.
    • Hoffman emailed cannabis and alcohol stakeholders the second draft of the agenda and the revised policy process on February 9th. A deadline for responses was set for March 2nd, but Hoffman indicated staff hadn’t “had a lot of feedback on that quite yet” (audio - <1m).
      • Draft agenda goals included:
        • Transformative innovation that reduces invisible barriers to opportunity, and will result in socially equitable conditions.
        • Increase opportunities for licensee support and success that leads to business sustainability and persistence in a post-COVID 19 economy. Identify role Board should play to help business be successful as businesses and what steps they could take to start.
        • Well-defined focus on public health and prevention partnerships that support collaborative, informed decision making and educational opportunities.
        • Help create more reliable access to medically compliant cannabis products, including a vehicle for solid advice to potential patients.
  • Policy and Rules Coordinator Casey Schaufler talked about a new CR-101 opening rulemaking on license applicant criminal history in advance of the agency opening a new licensing window for social equity applicants.
    • WA Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis members and the public have been critical of existing WSLCB processes for scoring criminal histories of applicants.
    • Schaufler said he would seek board approval to file a CR-101 to begin the rulemaking project during the February 17th Board Meeting. He elaborated that the project would “evaluate rules regarding the criminal history of cannabis license applicants” and “review current criminal history background check standards and criteria in an effort to remove unnecessary barriers to entry in the legal cannabis market from individuals disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.” He described how proposed revisions would be “designed to support socially equitable conditions” (audio - 2m).
    • Board Member Russ Hauge asked Schaufler to set aside time to “talk about that” with him as “I might be able to help out given all the years I wasted trying to put people in prison.”

Engagement Options

Phone

Number: 1.415.655.0001
Pin: 177 545 7754

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