In addition to a full slate of WSLCB public meetings, the agency planned to host a final deliberative dialogue and the social equity task force production work group would meet.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday June 20th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday June 21st
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 ]
WSLCB - Deliberative Dialogue - Cannabis Impairment
On Tuesday at 1:30pm PT, the final WSLCB Deliberative Dialogue on Cannabis Impairment was scheduled to occur.
- [ Event Details ]
- At publication time, agency staff had previously hosted four deliberative dialogue events on cannabinoids and impairment.
- The event announcement published on June 7th disclosed only one confirmed panelist who would offer “behavioral health” oriented perspectives: Beatriz Carlini, University of Washington Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute (UW ADAI) Research Scientist.
- See Carlini’s November 2021 update to Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG) members for details on her background and active effort to gather, organize, and recommend policies regarding high THC cannabis.
- Ahead of the announcement on the 7th, Policy and Rules Manager Kathy Hoffman briefly described the event and thanked Board Member Jim Vollendroff for his “assistance on recruitment,” adding that she’d contacted Seattle and King County Public Health seeking potential panelists.
- At publication time, Sarah Ross-Viles led the King County Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program (KC-YMPEP) at Seattle and King County Public Health. She had been a member of the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis Disproportionately Impacted Communities Work Group and expressed concern about the availability of unregulated impairing cannabinoid products during the fall 2021 vetting of the WSLCB agency request legislation on cannabinoid regulation.
WA SECTF - Work Group - Production
On Tuesday at 3pm PT, the first meeting of the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis Regulation of Cannabis Production Work Group (WA SECTF - Work Group - Production) was scheduled to occur.
- [ Event Details ]
- The new work group would be tasked with evaluating “The social equity impact of shifting primary regulation of cannabis production from the board to the department of agriculture, including potential impacts to the employment rights of workers” as described in RCW 69.50.336(9)(d).
- The agenda for the event indicated the new work group would be co-led by Jim Makoso and Micah Sherman.
- At publication time, Makoso was the Flowe Technology CEO, Lucid Lab Group Director, and recipient of the state's second cannabis research license.
- At publication time, Sherman was the Raven Co-Owner and Operations Director as well as a board member of the Washington Sun and Craft Growers Association (WSCA).
- It’s Cannabis Observer’s understanding that the Production Work Group planned to meet publicly twice before offering recommendations to the full WA SECTF.
Wednesday June 22nd
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- The public hearing on the Electronic Service rulemaking project was scheduled on the agenda.
- The Social Equity rulemaking project CR-102 was not listed on the agenda. When first disclosing her intent to withdraw the proposed social equity program rules on May 10th, Hoffman indicated that June 22nd was a tentative target for reintroduction. During her most recent rulemaking update on June 7th, no mention was made of changing the target date.
WSLCB - Executive Management Team
On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the three-member Board and agency leadership were scheduled to convene their monthly WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) meeting.
- [ Event Details ]
- Typically hosted on second Wednesdays, the June EMT meeting was rescheduled from June 8th to June 22nd without explanation.
- On June 17th, staff for the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) announced that the organization hosted its first in-person member meeting on June 8th and 9th in Seattle, following its first two-day invite-only stakeholder meeting. At the member meeting, state cannabis regulators voted on leadership changes which resulted in WSLCB Director Rick Garza stepping down as First Vice President, a role he had held from the inception of the organization.
Thursday June 23rd
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday June 24th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.