USA - Washington

Legislative, licensing, communications, and director updates contributed to the discussion amongst WSLCB leadership about activity towards social equity in cannabis.

Broad ranging conversations between the board and staff touched on retail safety, the cannabis reporting system, Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) data, and regulation of cannabinoids.

A skinny week for cannabis policymaking made room to re-light the secular stoner holiday, 4/20.

The board received a high level briefing on cashless payment options for retailers, approved filing proposed social equity program rules, and heard several critical public comments.

After a rulemaking update, the board mentioned a presentation on social equity to Seattle City Councilors and anticipated reports on cannabis retail safety at the next day’s board meeting.

Staff gathered input on draft conceptual rules for the agency social equity program which included many criticisms of the proposal - and heard opposition to the underlying equity project.

Proposed rules for the WSLCB social equity program also included “readability” edits throughout the WAC, and agency staff were scheduled to follow up after the Cannabis Retail Safety Forum.

The Governor shared his thoughts on the supplemental budget before signing it; the measure created two hemp task forces, a community reinvestment fund, and other cannabis-centric changes.

The Governor signed a bill which changed non-binding cannabis revenue appropriations and mandated a study of those expenditures by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee.

The governor signed the only non-controversial cannabis bill of the 2022 session into law, setting regulators up to form an interagency coordination team responsible for lab standards.