The Governor’s Council on Health Disparities planned to convene for the first time since December 2020 as policymaker attention began focusing on the 2022 legislative session.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday August 30th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday August 31st
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 ]
- Last week’s caucus was cancelled, the third cancellation since late July during weeks when there was not a board meeting scheduled. As the summer doldrums of August wane and board activity picks up, we expect to see fewer cancellations.
Wednesday September 1st
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- At publication time, Cannabis Observer was not aware of any planned cannabis rulemaking at this board meeting.
Thursday September 2nd
WA Pharmacy Commission - Public Meeting
On Thursday at 9am PT, the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (WA Pharmacy Commission) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- The Pharmacy Commission was scheduled to “Reauthorize emergency rules deleting Epidoilex[sic] from Schedule V." The original emergency authorization filed on May 20, 2020 had been extended multiple times, most recently on July 2nd. A separate, more permanent rulemaking project was underway.
- Commissioners were also scheduled to hear a “2022 Legislative Proposal Update.”
WA Governor Council on Health Disparities - Public Meeting
On Thursday at 10am PT, the Washington State Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities (WA Governor Council on Health Disparities) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- The WA Governor Council on Health Disparities was created by the Washington State Legislature in 2006 via SB 6197 following the recommendation by the Joint Select Committee on Health Disparities. The Council is responsible for identifying priorities and creating recommendations for the Governor and Legislature to eliminate health disparities by race, ethnicity, and gender in Washington. The Council has 17 members including 14 individuals from state agencies, boards, and commissions, and three members selected by the Governor. The Council's statutory authority is described in RCW 43.20.275 wherein the State Board of Health (SBOH) is assigned funding and responsibility for convening the Council.
- The Council has developed a positive reputation for convening and staffing legislative task forces on difficult subjects.
- The Environmental Justice Task Force met for 16 months beginning in September 2019 to recommend “strategies for incorporating environmental justice principles into future State agency actions across Washington.”
- The Office of Equity Task Force was convened in late 2019 “to develop a proposal for the creation of a state office of equity.” HB 1783 (“Creating the Washington state office of equity”) was signed into law on April 3rd, 2020 but funding for the Office was initially cut by the Governor as the pandemic took hold. The Office was subsequently funded during the 2021 legislative session.
- The Council has staffed and convened the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis (WA SECTF) and its three work groups from its inception and first meeting in October 2020.
- At Thursday’s lengthy meeting---the first gathering of the Council since December 2020---members were scheduled to discuss:
- Health Impact Reviews (HIR) conducted by SBOH staff
- “Agency and Member Priorities”
- “Office of Equity Priorities” with Director Karen Johnson
Friday September 3rd
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.