USA - Washington

Opponents of home grow appeared to have been assisted by a committee staffer who fabricated revenue impacts, the DUI bill was advanced, and senators may calendar cannabis-related bills on Wednesday.

The cannabis retail advertising bill was heard by a senate fiscal committee with an executive session already lined up, and the home grow bill would be heard by a fiscal committee in the House on Tuesday.

Of five cannabis-related bills requiring movement before the next cutoff, two were scheduled for initial hearings while the WSLCB Board planned to take up rulemaking on three projects.

Five more cannabis-related bills made it through the first cutoff bringing the total to 13, five of which must be moved by fiscal committees by the next gateway on Friday to continue onwards, including home grow.

The lab certification bill was passed in the House before a mishmash of amendments were published on seven cannabis-related bills up for executive sessions Friday morning in advance of the first cutoff.

Two bills were heard and the social equity program evaluation bill was advanced; fiscal committee schedules for the following week remained blank slates; and a SUD treatment bill may be moved.

Three bills were heard Tuesday; advertising and lab certification legislation was advanced; and two hearings were scheduled Wednesday in addition to the controversial social equity program evaluation bill.

Senators heard testimony on out of state ownership, schedules were shuffled, and bills on cannabis producer cooperatives, social equity buffer zones, and retail advertising were up for Tuesday.

Supporters welcomed expanded signage allowances and clarifications offered in a cannabis advertising bill, but opponents viewed changes as increasing youth perception of normalization.

Eight cannabis-related bills were scheduled for hearings and six potential executive sessions were planned in the week before the House of Origin Policy Committee Cutoff.