USA - Washington

Perspectives about cannabis were shared during psychedelic substance hearings Thursday, and two new bills were staged for introduction on Friday including an overhaul of WSLCB enforcement priorities.

Legislators heard testimony on five cannabis-related bills on Tuesday, a variant on the impaired driving bill was readied for introduction, and WSLCB leaders would be called upon to provide “technology updates.”

Five cannabis-related bills were scheduled for hearings on Tuesday, two bills would be introduced seeking to increase local control, and the Vice Chair of the cannabis policy committee in the House was replaced.

A committee questioned 20 people testifying on a bill to legalize home growing, but one legislator stood out for asking complex hypotheticals on conspiracies and insurance.

Five cannabis bills would receive hearings in the fourth week of the 2025 session, while regulators trimmed lab accreditation rules and briefed lawmakers on technology challenges.

Cannabis-related legislative activity appeared to be minimized during what was shaping up to be a regular session dominated by budget concerns which left little energy for efforts seen as lower priorities.

Senators in the Transportation Committee heard sobering testimony about impaired driving on Thursday, and Friday would not feature any cannabis-related policymaking activity, halfway to the first cutoff.

A substantively changed WSLCB data dashboard bill was recommended out of committee, schedule changes included an additional 5 public hearings next week, and the DUI bill was up anew in the Senate.

A new board member questioned staff recommendations on two alcohol rulemaking petitions before members approved filing proposed product sample rules and heard public remarks.

Four public hearings on Tuesday evidenced the complexity of cannabis policymaking, Republicans were eyeing excise tax revenue, and legislation may be advanced on WSLCB data dashboard development.