USA - Washington

While taking no position, agency remarks on a bill to move producer/processor regulation to WSDA raised questions of cost and timing, though all but one member of the public testified in favor.

DUI legislation was advanced in the Senate where two organized retail theft bills were staged for introduction, and the House would hear about transferring cannabis production authorities to WSDA.

The hearing on production unions revealed complicated power dynamics around the legislation and four new cannabis-related bills were ready for introduction including out of state ownership and ESOPs.

A bill to permit collective bargaining by cannabis agricultural workers was supported by claims it may help worker conditions, but opposed by those who felt the cannabis sector was singled out.

Legislators heard their first cannabis-related legislation on Tuesday and planned to consider a bill on Wednesday which would empower employee collective bargaining at cannabis producers.

The regular session got underway with the introduction of legislation and a briefing on the budget; Tuesday would include the first public hearing of a bill in the new cannabis policy committee in the House.

In addition to the kickoff of the 2025 regular session, WSLCB board members planned to advance rulemaking and organic-equivalent cannabis could get another look at WSDA.

Four cannabis bills were primed for the regular session of the Washington State Legislature which began Monday under burdened conditions given new legislators, fiscal constraints, and national foreboding.

Legislative affairs, social equity, traceability, rulemaking, and the board’s role at WSLCB were among topics discussed at the first public meeting of agency leadership in 2025.

Two newly released data dashboards on cannabis use and revenue were highlighted by staff who explained their process, potential uses, and agency leaders’ plans for future dashboards.