USA - Washington

With DOE staff moving forward on cannabis lab accreditation rulemaking, they explained the expected timeline for draft rules and heard feedback about the costly implications for labs.

Federal substance abuse regulators planned to promote concerns about CBD, Ecology staff prepared to accredit private labs, and the WSLCB revealed 2024 request legislation proposals.

Lab participants would get a glimpse of rulemaking procedure at the Department of Ecology and the Cannabinoid Science Work Group planned to convene under the WSLCB Research Unit.

In Oregon and Washington, land grant university and federal agricultural scientists invited the public to tour experimental fiber and grain hemp fields to learn about contemporary research.

A longtime employee was recognized, staff were working with the equity scoring vendor on acceptable documentation, and stakeholders wanted the agency to learn from past traceability efforts.

A new manager took over the Policy and Rules work at WSLCB and provided updates on a legislatively mandated cannabis project and a licensee survey for a rulemaking petition.

A campaign focused on reducing youth cannabis use and impaired driving was getting positive results according to the program manager who presented and answered questions.

WSLCB board members would hear an update on next steps in the agency social equity application process and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission planned to convene.

Staff went through subjects discussed during the CANNRA external stakeholder meeting, plus updates on licensing, social equity, and interest in a new traceability system.

The board heard how an environmental pesticides investigation was nearing completion along with comments from the incoming agency director and plans for staff focus groups.