The Week Ahead
(May 19, 2025)

The Week Ahead (May 19, 2025) - Bob Ferguson - Money - George Washington

The Governor planned to sign the final cannabis-related bill into law but had yet to schedule the operating budget, while the WSCLB Board continued to dial in their “efficiencies.”

Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.

Monday May 19th

At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were planned.

Tuesday May 20th

WA Governor - Bill Action

On Tuesday at 9:30am PT, the Washington State Office of the Governor (WA Governor) was scheduled to host a bill action ceremony.

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, members planned to hear "Research Program Dashboard Updates."
  • Members were also scheduled to approve the minutes from the May 7th Board Meeting.  That was unusual because the board had traditionally not taken action during caucus meetings, although there was nothing preventing them from doing so when notification was published in advance to provide sufficient time for public comment to be marshaled and considered.
    • Cannabis Observer seeks accountability through transparency and promotion of constructive civic engagement.  We have been critical of the board for eliminating the opportunity to provide verbal general public comment and for unnecessarily withholding received written general public comments until the meeting minutes are subsequently approved.  We've assumed it would take the board more than a month to publish written comments after board meetings were shifted to a monthly cadence.  We welcome the gesture of approving minutes during the twice monthly caucus meetings (similarly whittled down from a weekly cadence).  Yet publication of written comments still need not wait for the meeting minutes to be crafted, reviewed, approved, and published.
    • This is clear because Cannabis Observer can obtain written comments from the WSLCB via public records requests more quickly than the Board voluntarily publishes them.  At the start of the May 7th board meeting, Vollendroff was quick to draw attention to the first written general public comment received under the new regime, although he did not describe the subject matter in a representative way.  Cannabis Observer obtained the comment as a public record one week later.  It was from a concerned citizen who had previously been procuring hemp gummies and drinks in the mail, and who wanted to understand why their supplier had stopped shipping to Washington state.
    • There are many communities which take an interest in how the WSLCB oversees regulated substances in Washington state, and the elimination of the opportunity to testify publicly to the board perhaps more importantly eliminates a forum where disparate communities could witness and hear one another speak to shared concerns.  While Cannabis Observer cannot replace the many values provided by that opportunity for discourse, we are committed to publishing the written comments we obtain to provide insight into shared concerns more quickly than WSLCB board members are facilitating.
      • Comments are published on receipt by Cannabis Observer on the corresponding event details screen under “Information” (e.g., the May 7th WSLCB Board Meeting).

WA Governor - Executive Action Deadline

Tuesday would mark the last day for the Washington State Office of the Governor (WA Governor) to take action on legislation passed during the 2025 regular session, including  potentially vetoing some bills or sections of legislation.

  • At publication time, all cannabis-related bills had been signed or scheduled for action, but the operating budgets had not yet been calendared.
    • SB 5167 - Operating Budget and Supplemental Operating Budget
      • At publication time, Governor Bob Ferguson had been receiving pressure from various interest groups to veto particular sections of the operating budget pertaining to taxation and revenue collection.
      • Ferguson’s predecessor, former Governor Jay Inslee, repeatedly attempted to veto selected language within particular sections of budget bills, and was repeatedly rebuked by the Washington State Supreme Court for violating the Washington State Constitution as amended by a 1974 voter initiative granting limited line item veto power to the Executive.
  • Should Ferguson veto some or even the entire operating budget, he could demand that legislators continue working by calling for an initial up-to-30-day special session.
    • 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.”

Wednesday May 21st

WSLCB - Board Meeting

The bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was cancelled.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • In keeping with “Board Efficiencies” implemented in March, the bi-weekly board meeting cadence was changed to monthly and 25 public meetings planned for the calendar year were cancelled.

Thursday May 22nd

At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were planned.

Friday May 23rd

At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were planned.