USA - Washington

The final day of the 2023 regular session would almost certainly include acceptance of the operating budget - but passage of the Blake response bill seemed more complicated.

The biennium operating budget as revised by fiscal committee leadership from both chambers would be published on Saturday at noon, the second to last day of the 2023 regular session.

Six of seven clearly active cannabis bills were on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature into law, veto, or partial veto while representatives tried to offer tax relief to “eligible farmers.”

All seven clearly active cannabis bills had been passed by the Legislature and the conference committee on the operating budget planned to release their revisions on Saturday at noon.

Legislators appeared to have resolved a dispute over language added to the final clearly active cannabis bill by members of the House, and the WSLCB lobbyist hinted at the budget timeline.

Board members learned more about environmental pesticide investigations and test results before hearing a proposal for a dedicated research unit at the agency and legislative updates.

Six cannabis bills had been passed by the Legislature including the far reaching THC legislation, leaving only one clearly active cannabis bill in dispute in the House.

Legislators greeted the final week of the 2023 regular session as WSLCB staff cleaned up a policy mess nearly made near the sleeping giant of environmental pesticide contamination.

Social equity legislation and a technical bill with cannabis provisions were passed by the Legislature Thursday and senators called for a conference committee on the operating budget.

Agency leadership reported on their response to legacy environmental pesticides, CANNRA engagement, rule and research plans, as well as the status of hiring a new director.