USA - Washington

The WSLCB board and a social equity task force work group would convene during the quietest summer month amidst the kind of smoke which does not acknowledge borders.

On short notice, two speakers offered supportive remarks on legislation allowing CBD as a cannabis additive before committee passage, sending the bill unchanged to the floor hours later.

Task force members heard progress reports from work group leaders and WSLCB licensing staff while the public voiced complaints about the pace of task force work and the absence of the former co-chair.

The Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force Technical Assistance and Mentorship Work Group was scheduled to discuss legislative proposals during an otherwise typical August week.

Following arguments from attorneys, a superior court judge ruled an Idaho businessman did not have standing to challenge the statute and rules creating residency requirements for cannabis licensees.

Members debated the future of the task force while discussing planned agency request legislation to create an Interagency Coordination Team (ICT) to regulate lab accreditation.

At the end of session, representatives considered two amendments to a bill permitting importation of CBD for use as a cannabis product additive before passing it to the Senate.

The agencies on the Cannabis Science Task Force were scheduled to describe their potential request legislation packages intended to create a new body for oversight of testing labs.

A presentation on the state medical marijuana program and confirmation of ongoing rulemaking for medical consultant certification preceded several questions by work group members.

An $81 annual fee collected from each cannabis licensee was assessed to pay for oversight of imported CBD additives before committee members recommended the bill for passage.