Lynnwood officials prepped another step towards retail, WSLCB regulators had a full agenda for their board meeting, and legislators would hack through the final week of the regular session.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday April 21st
WA House - Session
On Monday at 10:30am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) was scheduled to convene.
WA Senate - Session
On Monday at 10:30am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) was scheduled to convene.
City of Lynnwood - City Council - Work Session
On Monday at 6pm PT, the Lynnwood City Council (City of Lynnwood - City Council) was scheduled to convene a work session.
- [ Event Details ]
- In September 2024, Lynnwood City Council Member George Hurst introduced a motion requesting that the Lynnwood Planning Commission research and offer a recommendation to allow cannabis retail stores to locate within the City by March 31st. The motion was approved 4-3 and reproduced in the meeting minutes:
- “Moved by George Hurst that the Lynnwood City Council direct the planning commission to conduct a thorough review of the current zoning limitations and restrictions pertaining to retail cannabis within city limits. The planning Commission is further directed to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations that would amend the city's zoning code and regulations to allow for the establishment of retail cannabis stores in designated zones. These recommendations should assume the end of the current ban on retail cannabis within the city of Lynnwood, and they must be presented to the city council no later than March 31st 2025 for further consideration.”
- The Planning Commission cancelled their Thursday March 13th meeting during which they had been scheduled to approve a draft recommendation as well as hear a presentation from WSLCB staff on the social equity program.
- Commissioners took up the deferred action item at their next meeting on Thursday March 27th—after the biweekly City Council meeting on Monday—and heard the WSLCB presentation. After approval, commissioners emailed the recommendation to councilmembers to meet the presentation requirements of the initial motion.
- On Monday, councilmembers would take up the recommendation during their work session in advance of formal consideration at a subsequent business meeting.
- “Motion to recommend development of an ordinance to allow retail cannabis in the following zones Highway 99 Mixed-Use (HMU), General Commercial (CG), and Alderwood (A) zone subject to the following conditions:
- “1. Provide a minimum 1,000-foot buffer in the Highway 99 Mixed-Use and General Commercial zones for restricted entities which are allowed a reduced buffer.
- “2. Provide a minimum 300-foot buffer in Alderwood zone for restricted entities which are allowed a reduced buffer.
- “3. Require landscaping, parking, and other standards required for retail uses in the underlying zone.”
- The meeting presentation included a map of the recommended zones to allow cannabis retailers to locate within city limits.
- “Motion to recommend development of an ordinance to allow retail cannabis in the following zones Highway 99 Mixed-Use (HMU), General Commercial (CG), and Alderwood (A) zone subject to the following conditions:
Tuesday April 22nd
WA Senate - Session
On Tuesday at 10am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) was scheduled to convene.
WA House - Session
On Tuesday at 1pm PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) was scheduled to convene.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
On Tuesday at 10am PT, the weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- According to the agenda, in addition to preparation for rulemaking the following day, the board planned to resume the presentation by Public Health Education Liaison Kristen Haley regarding the Healthy Youth Survey (HYS).
Wednesday April 23rd
WA House - Session
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) was scheduled to convene.
WA Senate - Session
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) was scheduled to convene.
WSDA - Focus Group - Hemp
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) planned to host a focus group on the hemp sector.
- [ Event Details ]
- According to the event announcement, “Greene Economics will be conducting focus groups on barriers facing the hemp industry, and hemp farmers. There will be an emphasis on people interested in using hemp for building materials or sustainable construction materials, but all licensees, advocates, and interested parties in the hemp space are invited.”
- The events were undertaken in response to a 2024 budget proviso which dedicated $220,000 for FY 2025 “solely for the agency to partner with the department of commerce to conduct a study to better understand the opportunities and challenges, as well as identify solutions to existing barriers, to create a healthy marketplace for hemp.”
- Four events were planned:
- Wednesday April 16th @ 10am
- Thursday April 17th @ 4pm
- Wednesday April 23rd @ 10am
- Thursday April 24th @ 4pm
- In addition, staff planned to host more informal “office hours” at the same Zoom link:
- Tuesday April 22nd @ 10am
- Tuesday April 29th @ 4pm
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- Rulemaking Petition Recommendation and Vote
- Concentrates Packaging [ Rulemaking Petition ]
- Edibles Packaging [ Rulemaking Petition ]
- CR-102
- Minors on Wholesale Licensed Premises [ Rulemaking Project ]
- CR-103
- Lab Authority Transfer [ Rulemaking Project ]
WSLCB - Executive Management Team
On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the three-member Board and agency leadership were scheduled to convene their monthly WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) meeting.
- [ Event Details ]
- After cancelling the March EMT, agency leaders rescheduled the April EMT from its usual time on second Wednesdays.
- In response to public outcry about plans to move EMT meetings behind closed doors, board members opted to leave the open format of the events unchanged for the time being.
Thursday April 24th
WA House - Session
On Thursday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) was scheduled to convene.
WA Senate - Session
On Thursday at 10am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) was scheduled to convene.
WSDA - Focus Group - Hemp
On Thursday at 4pm PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) planned to host a focus group on the hemp sector.
- [ Event Details ]
Friday April 25th
WA House - Session
On Friday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) was scheduled to convene.
WA Senate - Session
On Friday at 10am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) was scheduled to convene.
WA Pharmacy Commission - Legislative Review
On Friday at 12pm PT, the weekly Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (WA Pharmacy Commission) Legislative Review was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- At publication time, commissioners had cancelled their last seven weekly reviews.
Saturday April 26th
WA House - Session
On Saturday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) was scheduled to convene.
WA Senate - Session
On Saturday at 10am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) was scheduled to convene.
Sunday April 27th
WA House - Session
On Sunday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) was scheduled to convene.
WA Senate - Session
On Sunday at 1pm PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) was scheduled to convene.
WA Legislature - Sine Die
On Sunday at the close of business, the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) would adjourn sine die.
- Sunday April 27th would occasion sine die, the end of the regular session, described as the “Last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.”
- Governor Bob Ferguson could demand that legislators subsequently continue working by calling for an initial up-to-30-day special session, or legislators could muster a super-majority and do so themselves.
- The Guide to Lawmaking indicated, “Special sessions can be called by the Governor or the Legislature and often are held to deal with fiscal matters. There is no limit to how many special sessions can be called but each special session is 30 days. The legislature may adjourn before the 30th day is [sic] their business is complete. Almost all special sessions are called by the Governor and occur when they issue a proclamation. For the Legislature to call a special session, a two-thirds vote is required in both chambers.”