The Week Ahead
(July 11, 2022)

Social Equity - Washington Cannabis - We're Watching

A busy summer week would feature deliberations of a social equity work group, a WSDA hemp program webinar, WSLCB leadership updates, and the WA Impaired Driving Advisory Council (WIDAC).

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

Monday July 11th

WA SECTF - Work Group - Non-Violent Offense Policy and Home Grow - Public Meeting

On Monday at 12pm PT, the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis Non-Violent Offense Policy and Home Grow Work Group (WA SECTF - Work Group - Non-Violent Offense Policy and Home Grow) was scheduled to convene for the first time.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The social equity task force continued to delegate development of required recommendations to work groups as the December 2022 deadline for final recommendations approached. The Cannabis Non-Violent Offense Policy and Home Grow Work Group would take on development of two unrelated recommendations, likely in two consecutive public meetings, as required in RCW 69.50.336(9):
    • “(e) The social equity impact of removing nonviolent cannabis-related felonies and misdemeanors from the existing point system used to determine if a person qualifies for obtaining or renewing a cannabis license;”
    • “(c) The social equity impact of altering residential cannabis agriculture regulations;”
  • The agenda for Monday indicated members would only address the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) non-violent offense policy during their first meeting. WSLCB staff would likely help members review the agency Criminal History rulemaking project completed in 2021.
    • At their April 26th meeting, WA SECTF staff indicated both remaining work groups would likely only meet twice to gather feedback, so home grow would likely be the focus of the as yet unscheduled subsequent work group meeting.
    • Last week, WSLCB board members approved a rule change normalizing use of the word ‘cannabis’ and heard criticism of the hold on the social equity rulemaking project leading to a lengthy explanation for the pause.

Tuesday July 12th

WSLCB - Board Caucus

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

WSDA - Webinar - Preparing for Harvest

On Tuesday at 1pm PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) planned to host a webinar on preparing for compliance activities in advance of hemp harvests.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The event announcement indicated, “This is all of the information you will need to make sure you fill out your harvest report, and report your planting to the Farm Service Agency. We will record the webinar for anyone who misses it – and take time to answer questions.”

Wednesday July 13th

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 ]
  • At the last EMT meeting on June 22nd, WSLCB leaders heard about national and regional conferences staff had participated in along with updates on media requests, traceability, and a “strategic plan” for social equity communications.

Thursday July 14th

WIDAC - Council Meeting

On Thursday at 9:30am PT, the Washington Impaired Driving Advisory Council (WIDAC) was scheduled to convene their quarterly council meeting.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Through the WIDAC, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) hears from agencies and organizations working to reduce impaired driving, and helps coordinate their work. The advisory council is made up of 10 voting members from 7 state agencies with direct responsibility for traffic safety as well as 15 advisory members with expertise in prevention, deterrence, treatment, rehabilitation, and program management. The WIDAC meets quarterly in January, April, July, and October.
  • The subject of impaired driving, and impairment from substances more generally, had become more pressing for WSLCB staff in recent years. At publication time, the Cannabinoid Regulation rulemaking project was ongoing and agency staff had hosted a deliberative dialogue on May 31st which included two Washington State Patrol (WSP) officials from the state crime laboratory.
  • At publication time, Cannabis Observer had not previously observed the WIDAC. On the public website for the council, there were no references to prior meetings and no archived agendas or meeting materials to derive insight into their deliberations and work.
    • We reached out to the WTSC via their website contact form, but had not received guidance on how to observe the WIDAC meeting.
    • In June, the Washington Coalition for Open Government noted Representative Gerry Pollet encouraged WTSC Director Shelly Baldwin to declare meetings of the Active Transportation Safety Council would henceforth be open.
  • It’s our understanding that WSLCB Public Health Education Liaison Mary Segawa has some role on the WIDAC as evidenced by her mention of it in the description of the scope of her activities prepared for incoming Board Member Jim Vollendroff. She described the context as inclusive of “WTSC, DOL, WSP, State Testing Lab, and various other agencies representing law enforcement, transportation, courts, prosecutors, etc.”

Friday July 15th

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