WSLCB - Board Meeting
(May 1, 2019)

Here are some observations from the Wednesday May 1st WSLCB Board Meeting.

My top 2 takeaways:

• The Board adopted final revised rules for mandatory marijuana signage (audio – 4m).
  • See Cannabis Observer’s coverage of the public hearing on the CR-102 draft rules and the preparatory discussion during the previous day’s Board Caucus.
  • Policy and Rules Coordinator Kathy Hoffman presented the CR-103 to the Board and briefed from the issue paper.
  • She provided background on the rulemaking project: “effective January one of 2019, amendments to packaging and labeling rules removed language from accompanying material attached to a package or given separately to a consumer regarding the use of marijuana during pregnancy.” Hoffman emphasized warning language regarding cannabis use during pregnancy was “removed entirely” from packaging, labels, and accompanying materials.
  • WAC 314-55-086 defines mandatory signage that must be posted on licensed premises, including a warning that cannabis “Should not be used by women that are pregnant or breast feeding.” Hoffman told the Board the new rules would provide “clarity and assure coordinated signage” on required warnings to the public while supporting the agency’s commitment to public safety.
  • The only written public comment received “questioned whether or not any studies had been done” to establish a scientific basis for a warning. Hoffman responded to the commenter that “there had been” and pointed them to the research cited in the CR-102 issue paper.
  • The revised rules do not specify the precise language that must be posted, giving the agency flexibility to change messaging as better research becomes available.
  • With no questions for Hoffman, Board Member Russ Hauge moved for approval of the CR-103. With a quick voice vote the revised rules were unanimously adopted.
• During general public comment, Jim MacRae shared a resource and suggested WSLCB host a listen-and-learn session on medical cannabis reform (audio – 3m).
  • MacRae, of Straight Line Analytics, promised to share a document from Project CBD providing a “research summary on impacts of cannabinoid exposure during pregnancy” submitted to California as part of that state’s policy development on cannabis and reproductive toxicity.
    • See “Pregnancy Complications: Can Cannabis Harm a Fetus?” by Adrian Devitt-Lea (April 23, 2019), a public comment submitted by Project CBD to California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
  • MacRae praised the Quality Assurance Testing and Product Requirements listening session hosted by Hoffman: “It really was almost like day and night in terms of the engagement that I have felt.”
  • He encouraged the agency “to engage that type of process” when working with the Department of Health (DOH) on medical cannabis reform and asked for the inclusion of stakeholders beyond the industry such as patients and their provider networks.