The Week Ahead
(September 27, 2021)

Rede Group - Public Health + Youth Prevention Marijuana Summit - 2021

WSLCB staff would attempt to clarify their intent to reform cannabis law in Washington state, while CANNRA leaders educated public health and prevention practitioners on similar subjects.

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

Monday September 27th

WSLCB - Webinar - Legislative Proposal - Regulation of Cannabinoids

On Monday at 9am PT, staff from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) planned to host a webinar regarding agency request legislation on “regulation of cannabinoids.”

  • [ Event Details, Agency Request Legislation ]
  • After the emergence of more widespread awareness of licensed processors synthesizing delta-8-THC, delta-9-THC, and other compounds from cannabidiol (CBD) for sale and inclusion in cannabis products sold within the I-502 marketplace, WSLCB staff undertook multiple measures to better understand and begin regulating those chemical synthesis processes. In addition to a formal policy statement, an interpretive statement, multiple enforcement bulletins, and a rulemaking project---all made within the scope of the agency’s current authority---WSLCB staff also began composing agency request legislation “Extending regulatory authority over cannabinoids of a psychotropic and impairing nature.”
  • Executive agencies must coordinate with and achieve the approval of the Washington State Office of the Governor prior to seeking legislative sponsors for potential agency request legislation. The Governor’s Office requires staff from requesting agencies to conduct stakeholder outreach and report on that feedback as part of the submission process. WSLCB stakeholders selected by Director of Legislative Relations Chris Thompson were engaged on September 1st, a few days prior to the deadline for submissions on Monday September 13th, and the agency’s intended filing date of Friday September 10th. Agency staff heard consistent stakeholder feedback that not enough time was granted to compose feedback on the complex potential agency request legislation, and sought an extension which was granted by the Governor’s Office. While the bill package was still filed with the Office of the Governor, agency staff would be accorded the privilege to subsequently update its contents at their discretion.
    • It’s unclear if or what version of the bill text was filed with the Washington State Office of Financial Management (WA OFM) on Friday September 10th, but in addition to the first draft, a second draft of the bill was produced by the Washington State Office of the Code Reviser (WA OCR) on September 10th.
  • The webinar on Monday morning was intended “...to provide a better foundation of information for stakeholders about the agency’s proposal. We will offer a presentation and will provide an opportunity for the audience to seek clarification and make sure everyone understands what is being proposed and why.”

Tuesday September 28th

Rede Group - Public Health + Youth Prevention Marijuana Summit - 2021 - Keynote

On Tuesday at 8:15am PT, the Public Health + Youth Prevention Marijuana Summit hosted by Rede Group kicks off with a keynote by Gillian Schauer, Executive Director of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA).

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Cannabis Observer covers public events and private events where officials are engaged in their official capacities.
  • Schauer’s keynote is titled, “Hot Topics in Cannabis Policy and Public Health: from novel cannabinoids to proposed federal legalization.”

Rede Group - Public Health + Youth Prevention Marijuana Summit - 2021 - Delta-8 THC and Other THC Isomers

On Tuesday at 9am PT, the Public Health + Youth Prevention Marijuana Summit hosted by Rede Group continues with a panel on synthesized cannabinoids composed by the leadership of CANNRA.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • CANNRA leaders will address "Delta-8 THC and other THC Isomers: Public health considerations and policy approaches."
  • In addition to Schauer, the panel includes:
    • Norm Birenbaum
      • CANNRA President
      • State of New York Director of Cannabis Programs
    • Andrew Brisbo
      • CANNRA Second Vice President
      • State of Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency Executive Director
    • Tyler Klimas
      • CANNRA Treasurer
      • State of Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board Executive Director
    • Steve Marks
      • CANNRA Member at Large
      • State of Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission Executive Director

WSLCB - Board Caucus

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

WA HCA - DBHR Listening Session

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

Rede Group - Public Health + Youth Prevention Marijuana Summit - 2021 - A Public Health Approach to Cannabis Regulation

On Tuesday at 9am PT, the Public Health + Youth Prevention Marijuana Summit hosted by Rede Group continues with another panel featuring CANNRA ED Gillian Schauer.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Schauer joins other panelists to discuss "A public health approach to cannabis regulation: how to take your seat at the table (and keep it)."

Wednesday September 29th

WSLCB - Board Meeting

On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Beyond rescission of another batch of five board interim policies (BIPs), Cannabis Observer was not aware of any planned cannabis policymaking at the board meeting.

Thursday September 30th

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

Friday October 1st

DOE - Cannabis Science Task Force Steering Committee

On Friday at 1pm PT, the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) Cannabis Science Task Force (CSTF) Steering Committee was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • We may hear an update on the formerly planned DOE request legislation which would have modified “the timeline of when ecology oversees the [cannabis laboratory] accreditation role.” Ecology staff shelved plans for that legislation in the intervening time since the Steering Committee last met.