A senate interview with new WSLCB Board Member Pete Holmes offered insights on Friday and eight cannabis-related bills remained active in the second half of the 2025 regular session.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Monday March 17th, the 64th day of the 2025 regular session.
My top 4 takeaways:
- On Friday, the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) hosted a public hearing regarding confirmation of the gubernatorial appointment of Pete Holmes, the newest member of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB).
- SGA 9203 - Confirmation - Pete Holmes
- Following the departure of David Postman in November, former Governor Jay Inslee promoted Jim Vollendroff to the role of Chair of the Board in late December subject to confirmation by the Senate. On February 21st, WA Senate LC members heard Vollendroff’s opening remarks and had several probing questions regarding the perspective he brought to the agency, his opinion on the board structure, and his willingness to work with legislators.
- On Monday January 13th, Inslee appointed Holmes to the board member position previously occupied by Vollendroff. Later that week after his inauguration, Governor Bob Ferguson also appointed Holmes to the role, signifying his endorsement by two sitting Governors in the span of a week.
- On Friday, Holmes offered brief opening remarks describing his background and perspectives on the role. He indicated that he planned to not only reinforce public safety but also support licensed businesses towards success (audio - 3m, video - TVW). Senator Mark Schoesler and Ranking Member Curtis King asked questions which seemed intended to confirm his fitness for the job. In response to a question from Acting Chair Steve Conway about the future of the cannabis sector, Holmes suggested profitable pathways for the regulated market had already been suggested such as social consumption lounges (audio - 1m, video - TVW). Conway offered remarks towards the end signaling his growing discomfort with the WSLCB being responsible for both alcohol and cannabis regulation (audio - 2m, video - TVW).
- SGA 9203 - Confirmation - Pete Holmes
- Eight cannabis-related bills were advanced through the House of Origin Cutoff and oriented towards the Opposite House Policy Committee Cutoff on April 2nd.
- The House of Origin Cutoff was the third cutoff gateway of the 2025 regular session. To continue advancing, legislation had to be scheduled in an order of consideration during a floor session before potential amendment, debate, and passage by the chamber before 5pm PT on Wednesday March 12th.
- Cannabis-related bills
- HB 1066 - WSLCB Data Dashboard
- HB 1141 - Cannabis Production Unions
- HB 1341 - DOH Patient Data Sharing
- HB 1347 - WSLCB Lab Certification Authority
- HB 1551 - Social Equity Program Evaluation
- SB 5206 - Cannabis Retailer Advertising
- SB 5403 - Cannabis Retail Financial Interest
- SB 5758 - Social Equity Buffer Zones
- Budget bills
- Gubernatorial Appointment Confirmations
- Inactive Bills
- 17 cannabis-related
- 7 adjacent
- The Opposite House Policy Committee Cutoff is the fourth cutoff gateway of the 2025 regular session.
- To continue advancing, legislation must be heard, have an executive session scheduled, then be potentially amended, debated, recommended, and reported by a policy committee before close of business on Wednesday April 2nd.
- There are exceptions. Legislation can be designated “necessary to implement budgets” (NTIB) by chamber leaders to exempt it from the regular rules of order, loosely interpreted to mean a bill was projected to have a measurable fiscal impact.
- See the Cannabis Observer 2025-26 biennium landing screen for a complete list of cannabis-related and -adjacent legislation being tracked.
- Introductions went as planned on Friday, and no bills were staged for introduction on Monday in either chamber.
- Three senate bills passed just before the House of Origin Cutoff were introduced in the House on Friday.
- SB 5206 - Cannabis Retailer Advertising
- See the bill text, bill report, and fiscal note for more details.
- The legislation was referred to the Washington State House Consumer Protection and Business Committee (WA House CPB) as planned.
- At publication time, a hearing on the bill had not been announced.
- SB 5403 - Cannabis Retail Financial Interest
- See the bill text, bill report, and fiscal note for more details.
- The legislation was referred to the WA House CPB as planned.
- At publication time, a hearing on the bill had not been announced.
- SB 5758 - Social Equity Buffer Zones
- See the bill text, bill report, and fiscal note for more details.
- The legislation was referred to the WA House CPB as planned.
- A public hearing on the bill was scheduled for Wednesday March 19th.
- SB 5206 - Cannabis Retailer Advertising
- There were no introductions planned in the House or the Senate on Monday.
- Three senate bills passed just before the House of Origin Cutoff were introduced in the House on Friday.
- On Monday, no cannabis-related policymaking events were planned at the Washington State Legislature.