USA - Washington

Board members reviewed actions of the 2024 legislative session, got the status of several rulemaking projects, and heard about a petition to renew harvest dates as required labeling.

Regulators were ready to continue or initiate rulemaking processes in the week following the end of the legislative session while prevention researchers reviewed their findings.

The first cannabis bill of 2024 was signed into law before a dynamic conclusion to the session as the “high THC” legislation criss-crossed the rotunda for a last minute change which may have fiscal consequences.

All cannabis bills were funded in the operating budget; the patient excise tax exemption bill was passed; a bill action was scheduled by the Governor; and lawmakers would conclude the 2024 regular session.

The supplemental operating budget’s final form would be released Wednesday morning as time ran short for the two remaining cannabis-related bills awaiting concurrence votes ahead of sine die on Thursday.

Senators made changes to data gathering requirements in a bill regulating “high THC” products before almost unanimously passing the measure and returning it to the House for concurrence.

The cannabis waste bill was passed by the Legislature; the supplemental operating budget was nearing completion; and two cannabis-related bills awaited concurrence votes in the last three days of session.

Senators reduced by half the period of time registered patients would be exempted from a cannabis excise tax under HB 1453, but a large majority again supported the change.

Five cannabis bills were left standing and well positioned to become law as legislators mustered their final push towards completion of the 68th Washington State Legislature on Thursday.

The patient excise tax exemption bill was modified and passed by the Senate, joining two other bills awaiting concurrence in their chambers of origin as lawmaker attention turned to budgets before sine die.