The locus of cannabis policymaking in Washington state would temporarily shift to Walla Walla as an influential trade association convened legislators and regulators to confer and commingle.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday June 13th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday June 14th
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 ]
- On June 1st, proclamation 20-28.16 on the COVID-19 state of emergency declared by Governor Jay Inslee went into effect which rescinded proclamation 20-28 regarding somewhat temporary modifications to the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). Public agencies have been restricted from hosting in-person meetings to prevent the spread of the disease since late February 2020.
- Among the few silver linings of the pandemic, this restriction forced an acceleration of the digital transformation of state and local governments to support remote observation and testimony in public meetings. From a transparency standpoint, it will be interesting to observe if any jurisdictions retreat to hosting in-person meetings only.
- Assuming this week’s board caucus is not cancelled, Tuesday’s meeting will be the first attempt by WSLCB staff to host a “hybrid” in-person and virtual meeting. As detailed in an announcement posted on June 8th:
- ‘Effective June 9, 2022, all public Board activity will be held in a “hybrid” environment. This means the Board will open the Boardroom at the headquarters building in Olympia (1025 Union Avenue, Olympia, WA 98504) for in-person attendance as well as continuing the broadcasts online via MS Teams. TVW also regularly airs these meetings, those links will be provided when available. Please note that although the Boardroom will be staffed during a meeting, Board Members and agency participants may continue to appear virtually. Please contact dustin.dickson@lcb.wa.gov with any questions.’
- At the end of the WSLCB board meeting on June 8th, Board Chair David Postman addressed the change to indicate board caucuses, board meetings, and Executive Management Team (EMT) meetings would become available both in-person and virtually. Even if a meeting didn’t have “a board member there,” staff would always be available “on our public meeting days who can help you get in front of the camera to participate.” His hope was for a “seamless mix” of in-person and remote participation.
- Cannabis Observer planned to renew attending WSLCB events in-person.
Wednesday June 15th
WACA - Spring Meeting - 2022 - Opening Remarks
On Wednesday at 8:15am PT, the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Spring Meeting would begin with opening remarks from WSLCB leadership.
- [ Event Details ]
- Cannabis Observer documents public events and private events where officials are engaged in their official capacities. At publication time, Cannabis Observer was not a member of WACA and had never been financially supported by WACA - although many of its members sponsor our work.
- The annual WACA Spring Meeting hosted in-person in Walla Walla would be occurring throughout the week. Guests would be welcomed to the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center on Monday evening before electing to participate in the “Bowl in One” golf tournament or a “Chartered 5-hour wine tour with lunch” on Tuesday. A cannabis policy meeting featuring many invited public officials was scheduled for Wednesday to be concluded with a fundraiser in support of Representative Drew MacEwen’s campaign for the open state senate seat in the 35th legislative district previously held by Tim Sheldon since 1997.
- Cannabis Observer will be participating in the policy meeting on Wednesday.
- According to the latest draft agenda published on June 3rd, WSLCB Board Chair David Postman and Director Rick Garza were scheduled to offer opening remarks following a welcome by WACA President Becca Burghardi (Northwest Cannabis Solutions Assistant Director of Research and Development and 4Front Ventures Senior Project Manager) and WACA Executive Director and Lobbyist Vicki Christophersen (Christophersen Inc. Principal).
WACA - Spring Meeting - 2022 - WSLCB Engagement
On Wednesday at 8:15am PT, the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Spring Meeting would proceed with discussions with officials from the WSLCB and the Governor’s Office.
- [ Event Details ]
- Postman and Garza would be joined by four other WSLCB leaders along with Senior Policy Advisor Sheri Sawyer from the Governor’s Office to confer “in small groups according to subject matter expertise to discuss current challenges and opportunities facing the industry.”
- Becky Smith, Director of Licensing
- Justin Nordhorn, Director of Policy and External Affairs
- Ronald Rupke, Enforcement and Education Deputy Chief
- Kathy Hoffman, Policy and Rules Manager
WACA - Spring Meeting - 2022 - WA Legislature Engagement
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Spring Meeting would proceed with discussions with Washington state senators and representatives.
- [ Event Details ]
- At publication time, ten state legislators were scheduled to participate in a “Legislative Round Robin”:
- Karen Keiser, WA Senator (D-32)
- Chair of the primary cannabis policymaking committee in the senate, the Washington State Senate Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs Committee (WA Senate LCTA), Keiser was the prime sponsor of SB 5547 in 2022, WSLCB agency request legislation to address cannabinoid regulation. Keiser was also the prime sponsor of SB 5983 which repackaged SB 5547 towards the end of the session.
- Curtis King, WA Senator (R-14)
- Senior ranking member of the WA Senate LCTA, King was also the Republican senate appointee to the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis (WA SECTF). King visited with WACA members at the organization’s fall policy conference in 2021.
- Ann Rivers, WA Senator (R-18)
- A member of the WA Senate LCTA, Rivers was the prime sponsor of SB 5052 in 2015 which merged the licensed adult use and unlicensed medical dispensary markets. Rivers’ striking amendment to SB 5983 effectively killed the bill at the end of the 2022 session.
- Rebecca Saldaña, WA Senator (D-37)
- A member of the WA Senate LCTA, Saldaña was also the Democrat senate appointee to the WA SECTF. She prime sponsored SB 5796, one of the few successful cannabis bills in 2022, which made minor modifications to the dedicated cannabis account standing appropriations.
- Derek Stanford, WA Senator (D-1)
- A member of the WA Senate LCTA, Stanford was the prime sponsor of SB 5767 in 2022, the cannabinoid regulation bill championed by WACA leadership. Stanford visited with WACA members at the organization’s fall policy conference in 2021.
- Shelley Kloba, WA Representative (D-1)
- Chair of the primary cannabis policymaking committee in the house, the Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG), Kloba was the prime sponsor of HB 1668 in 2022, WSLCB agency request legislation intended to address cannabinoid regulation which was not passed by lawmakers. She also prime sponsored and passed HB 1859 regarding cannabis testing lab standards.
- Matt Boehnke, WA Representative (R-8)
- Eric Robertson, WA Representative (R-31)
- Ranking member of the WA House COG, Robertson typically voted against cannabis bills.
- Larry Springer, WA Representative (D-45)
- During the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) meeting on February 7th, Springer led the executive session on HB 2022 for the majority party. While narrowly recommended out of the committee, the social equity bill was not advanced further.
- Monica Jurado Stonier, WA Representative (D-49)
- Karen Keiser, WA Senator (D-32)
WACA - Spring Meeting - 2022 - Legislator of the Year
On Wednesday at 12:45pm PT, the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Spring Meeting would proceed with “Legislator of the Year” awards.
- [ Event Details ]
- From draft event agenda: “The policymaking environment has seen more divisiveness than ever before. WACA recognizes elected leaders who have been islands of steady, reasoned, fact-driven leadership in the storm.”
- Drew MacEwen, WA Representative (R-35)
- Derek Stanford, WA Senator (D-1)
WACA - Spring Meeting - 2022 - WSDA Engagement
On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Spring Meeting would proceed with discussions with officials from the WSDA.
- [ Event Details ]
- From the draft event agenda: “We will be joined by representatives of the WSDA to give an update on organic certification for cannabis, hemp regulations, lab accreditation update, and a new hemp in food study.”
- Jessica Allenton, WSDA Commodity Inspection Division Assistant Director
- Trecia Ehrlich, WSDA Hemp Program Manager
WACA - Spring Meeting - 2022 - Cannabis Impairment
On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Spring Meeting would proceed with discussion about cannabis impairment with officials from the Washington State University Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach (WSU CCPRO) and the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA).
- [ Event Details ]
- From the draft event agenda: “Our panelists will discuss the challenges of translating the knowns and unknowns of basic pharmacology, chemistry, and medicine into science-based policy regarding when a substance or mixture of substances has the potential to be impairing. Focus will be placed on what it means to be impaired or intoxicated.”
- Jessica Tonani, Verda Bio CEO (moderator)
- Brad Douglass, The Werc Shop Chief Regulatory Officer and Vice President of Chemistry
- Tracy Ann Klein, WSU CCPRO Assistant Director
- Gillian Schauer, CANNRA Executive Director
Thursday June 16th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday June 17th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.