The Week Ahead
(June 28, 2021)

State of the Washington Cannabis Industry

The WSLCB Board would learn more about the subject of synthesized delta-9-THC the day before the social equity task force work group on licensing discusses the “State of the Industry.”

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

Monday June 28th

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

Tuesday June 29th

WSLCB - Board Caucus

On Tuesday at 10am 3pm PT, the weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • During last week’s caucus, Board Member Ollie Garrett precipitated a thirty minute discussion on the prevalence of synthesized delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) within the regulated marketplace. Garrett regarded the issue as a “serious” problem in part due to “not knowing the health impacts" and asked, “where do we think we should be on that subject at this point?” Board Member Russ Hauge told Garrett, "as of this moment, status quo. We have staff saying that they are unable or unwilling to proceed with any enforcement kind of action." He planned to meet with Washington State Office of the Attorney General (WA OAG) counsel later that week on Thursday June 24th “to discuss the legalities of this” and his “position that [cannabidiol] CBD from outside the regulated system may be used to enhance CBD content and that’s all.” After hearing from their attorneys, Hauge promised to return to the board “as soon as is reasonably possible after that,” expecting he’d have more to offer fellow board members at their regularly scheduled caucus on Tuesday.
    • At the board meeting the next day, members heard from several licensees about the impacts of synthesized delta-9-THC in the regulated marketplace. During subsequent commentary by all three board members, Postman admitted “there is an enforcement investigation” but offered no further information at that point “‘cause I don’t know any more, I should not know more.” Hauge later reiterated, “at no time did I demand an investigation.”

WA HCA - DBHR Listening Session

On Tuesday at 1:30pm PT, the bi-weekly Washington State Health Care Authority (WA HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) Behavioral Health Service Provider Listening Session was scheduled to recur.

Wednesday June 30th

WA SECTF - Work Group - Licensing

On Wednesday at 9am PT, the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis (WA SECTF) Licensing Work Group was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The Licensing work group met for the first time on April 21st. Wednesday will be their second meeting.
  • On Wednesday, work group members planned to present and discuss a series of briefings on the “State of the Industry” highlighting perspectives from different sectors.
    • Producer/Processor
    • Retail
    • Medical Consumers
      • Michelle Merriweather - Work Group Co-Lead, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle President and CEO
      • Allyson Clayborn - Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Compliance Officer
        • Clayborn had been a regular attendee at the Department of Ecology (DOE) Cannabis Science Task Force (CSTF) Steering Committee meetings in 2021, and observed several WSLCB deliberative dialogues.
    • Statute
      • Monica Martinez - Work Group Co-Lead
      • Christy Curwick Hoff - WA SECTF Staff

Thursday July 1st

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

Friday July 2nd

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