USA - Washington

After a brisk week of cannabis policy committee activity in the House including consideration of several controversial bills, legislators were scheduled to address other topics until Monday.

A new bill to raise the age limit on cannabis concentrates and require additional educational resources received support from prevention groups but opposition from cannabis stakeholders.

Senators passed the cannabis waste bill and revived out-of-state ownership; new tax bills were coming; the preliminary schedule was published; and 3 hearings were up Thursday morning.

With some calls for additional data or formatting changes, testimony in a hearing on legislation to set up a WSLCB data dashboard was largely supportive.

Representatives had too much to chew on from their Tuesday hearings, WSLCB leadership discussed legislative positions, and five bills could potentially be moved in Senate Rules.

Legislation to alter a planned transfer of cannabis lab accreditation authority was broadly praised by the sponsor, agency leaders, and cannabis sector stakeholders. 

By the end of Tuesday, Representatives tasked with oversight of the adult-use cannabis market were scheduled to have heard five bills and considered moving two in the first days of the week.

10 cannabis-related bills were scheduled for action during the second week of the 2024 session beginning on MLK Jr. Day, as regulators tracked implications in their scopes of authority.

Companion “high THC” legislation was readied for the Senate, five additional bills were scheduled for committee actions, and two bills were poised for movement on Monday.

Leadership went over the first legislative briefing of 2024, including active bills and possible amendments, then heard about social equity applicants, education, staffing, and tribal updates.