In addition to a WSLCB board meeting, a WSU researcher would present their findings on “High-Potency Cannabis” and WSDA staff planned next steps on the hemp program.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday May 23rd
UW CCR - Webinar - Chronic and Acute Effects of High-Potency Cannabis on Cognition
On Monday at 12pm PT, the University of Washington Center for Cannabis Research (UW CCR) planned to host a webinar on “Chronic and Acute Effects of High-Potency Cannabis on Cognition.”
- [ Event Details ]
- Staff affiliated with the UW CCR recently began hosting informational webinars which are open to the public, beginning with an overview of research on “Optimizing the Medical Properties of Cannabis” by UW CCR Director Nephi Stella on April 4th.
- On Monday, Washington State University (WSU) Assistant Professor of Psychology Carrie Cuttler was scheduled to present findings from The Health and Cognition (THC) Lab which “focuses on elucidating the potentially beneficial and detrimental effects of chronic cannabis use and acute cannabis intoxication. Our current and recent work focuses on examining links between cannabis use and mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, OCD), physical health (e.g., pain, sleep), stress, and cognition (e.g., memory, decision-making, executive functioning, creativity, attention). Further, we are interested in examining effects of cannabis with different concentrations of THC and CBD as well as effects of cannabis concentrates to better understand their influence on mental health, physical health, and cognition.”
- Cuttler was a co-signatory of the November 2020 “consensus statement” of selected research on “Cannabis Concentration and Health Risks.”
- At publication time, Cuttler was also a member of the WSU Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach (WSU CCPRO).
- Meanwhile, legislatively requested policy research around “high-THC cannabis” continued at the University of Washington Addictions, Drugs, and Alcohol Institute (UW ADAI) which was “mandated to develop policy recommendations to the WA State legislature to reduce harms associated with the non-medical use and availability of high-THC cannabis products in the regulated market of WA State. In March 2022, we collected opinions from 109 individuals from diverse backgrounds including educators, clinicians, youth, government workers, and cannabis industry representatives about how to best address problems related to high-THC cannabis sold in Washington State. (If you were one of these individuals, thank you!) We ended up with 46 unique ideas which we are now asking you to sort and rate. Participation is anonymous and takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. You have the opportunity to receive a $30 gift card for your time if you choose to provide your email. Your email will not be linked to your responses. Click here to participate: https://www.balance.study/ By December of 2022, the results of this project will be publicly available.”
Tuesday May 24th
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 ]
Wednesday May 25th
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- During previous updates, WSLCB staff mentioned their intention to host a public hearing on the Electronic Service rulemaking project and seek approval to file the CR-103 on the Pesticide Action Levels rulemaking project at Wednesday’s board meeting.
Thursday May 26th
WSDA - Public Hearing - Hemp Extract Certification
On Thursday at 9am PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) planned to host a public hearing on the Hemp Extract Certification rulemaking project.
- [ Event Details, Rulemaking Project ]
- The Hemp Extract Certification rulemaking project was initiated in July 2021 to implement SB 5372. Proponents indicated a voluntary certification of hemp products issued by WSDA would assist in product export out of state. While the CR-101 was issued promptly after the end of the legislative session, emergency rules were issued in November and renewed in March before the CR-102 was issued in April. The text of the emergency rules and the proposed rules are identical.
- SB 5372 also required the creation of a voluntary hemp processor registration process at the WSDA, as hemp processors are not explicitly licensed nor specially regulated by the state. At publication time, four hemp processors had registered.
- On May 17th, WSDA staff re-filed the CR-101 on the Hemp Program rulemaking project regarding regulation of hemp producers. The revised CR-101 indicated agency staff also intend to revise fees for hemp producers downwards. At publication time, there were 61 producers licensed by WSDA, considerably fewer than previous years, so fewer WSDA contractors will be heading to hemp fields to perform required pre-harvest sampling in the fall.
- On May 16th, WSDA Director Derek Sandison issued a letter announcing initial steps towards creation of a Washington State Hemp in Food Task Force established by budget proviso during the 2022 legislative session. The task force “will make recommendations to the Legislature about regulations and guidance for hemp in food” which remains unaddressed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and by WSDA in turn. Other states have taken the initiative to regulate the safety of their food supply while authorizing the inclusion of hemp-derived cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD). During the legislative session, some suggested the task force could be a good venue in which to address more controversial aspects of CBD extraction from hemp for conversion into other cannabinoids.
- On May 31st, WSLCB staff planned to host a second deliberative dialogue on cannabis impairment to continue a focus on “Delta 8 and other unregulated cannabinoids.”
Friday May 27th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.