WSLCB - Board Caucus
(March 6, 2018)

Here are some observations from the Tuesday March 6th Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus.

My top 3 takeaways:

• Policy and Rules Coordinator Joanna Eide prepared the Board for the temporary suspension of the 24-hour quarantine period licensees have been required to observe prior to transferring products.  The emergency rule will be passed at Wednesday’s Board Meeting (Mar 7).  Here’s a link to that segment of the transcript.
• The Board scheduled an executive session with two Assistant Attorneys General “for the purpose of discussing litigation or potential litigation that impacts the Liquor and Cannabis Board.”  I speculate this could have been a discussion about the Superior Court of Washington State ruling in favor of Kittitas County or possibly the potential(?) lawsuit by licensees impacted by the traceability rollout led by WSIA.
• Director of Legislative Relations Chris Thompson briefed the Board on legislative activity as the short session comes to an end this Thursday.  Much of the discussion centered on budgeting actions and interim charges as very few Cannabis bills made progress.  Here’s a link to that segment of the transcript.
  • Since this conversation, HB 2334 regarding cannabinoid/CBD additives has moved.  It was passed by the House on Tuesday and is scheduled for a public hearing and executive action in the Senate Wednesday morning at 9am.
  • There was discussion about the House budgeting $2.8M for the State Patrol in part to confront activity in the illicit market.  And the House budgeted $782K for the WSLCB for 6 full-time employees for Enforcement, IT, and traceability data analysis. My understanding is the House and Senate are actively reconciling details like this, so those numbers are likely provisional.
  • Finally, there was discussion of an interim study for home delivery to medical patients to be conducted by the WSLCB this fall.  The Board plans to calendar their interim charges next week.

Follow Up (Mar 7, 2018)

For your reference, here are MP3 excerpts from the audio recording:

• Board Preparation – Joanna Eide
• Legislative Activity – Chris Thompson