The social equity production work group would meet, likely for the last time, before WSLCB staff convened a listen and learn forum on draft rules for the cannabinoid regulation rulemaking project.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday July 25th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday July 26th
WSDA - Public Hearing - Pesticide Licensing Exams - Morning
On Tuesday at 9am PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) planned to host a public hearing on the Pesticide Licensing Exams rulemaking project.
- [ Event Details, Rulemaking Project ]
- The department oversees “a licensing and continuing education program for more than 28,000 pesticide applicators, dealers, consultants, and structural pest inspectors. As part of the licensing process, the department administers pesticide exams to ensure that individuals and businesses that apply, sell, or consult about pesticide products have the knowledge to do so in a safe and effective manner.”
- A rulemaking project was initiated several years ago to consider “modifying provisions of chapter 16-228 WAC to allow for third-party entities to administer pesticide licensing examinations and collect examination fees. This may include raising and restructuring examination fees.”
- Efforts were renewed in late 2021 leading to the issuance of a CR-102 with proposed rules in late June which indicated the department “will continue to offer paper-based testing. Applicants may utilize the paper-based testing option currently available or may elect to take exams via computer-based or virtual-based platforms at a fee not to exceed $65 per exam. This fee will be established in contract with a third-party entity and will be posted to the WSDA website.”
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 ]
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.
- [ Event Details ]
WSDA - Public Hearing - Pesticide Licensing Exams - Afternoon
On Tuesday at 2pm PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) planned to host another public hearing on the Pesticide Licensing Exams rulemaking project.
WA SECTF - Work Group - Production
On Tuesday at 3pm PT, the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis Regulation of Cannabis Production Work Group (WA SECTF - Work Group - Production) planned to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- The Regulation of Cannabis Production Work Group was established to develop recommendations regarding shifting oversight of production licensees to the Department. The work group first met on June 21st and staff indicated members would likely meet only one additional time.
- On June 28th, work group co-lead Jim Makoso, Flowe Technology CEO and Lucid Lab Group Director, was elected co-chair of the WA SECTF. At the time, WA SECTF Chair and Representative Melanie Morgan made clear that a co-chair would not only assist with the meetings but share responsibilities “for all of it," including the report on their recommendations, staying “on target with the [enacting] legislation,” and “keeping members in…line with communication.” She promised to share authority and “space in leadership” with whomever members chose.
- On July 18th, Representative Melanie Morgan tendered her resignation as the WA SECTF legislative co-chair, effective immediately, a move she claimed was in response to “my recent appointments to two new committees” which were “taking me in new directions.” She believed the group had “done great work, thus far, to create equity and inclusion in the cannabis industry… I am thankful for [WA SECTF] staff’s support in ensuring that we were prepared and well-resourced to lead meetings and engage with the community” and remained “confident that the Task Force will continue to carry out its’ mission.”
Wednesday July 27th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Thursday July 28th
WSLCB - Listen and Learn Forum - Cannabinoid Regulation
On Thursday at 2pm PT, WSLCB Policy and Rules staff planned to host a listen and learn forum on the Cannabinoid Regulation rulemaking project.
- [ Event Details, Rulemaking Project ]
- In May, WSLCB Policy and Rules staff initiated the Cannabinoid Regulation rulemaking project “to identify and further define terms including, but not limited to, additives, solvents, ingredients, compounds, or concentrates used in the production or processing of cannabis products. Additional revisions may be considered where appropriate.”
- Listen and learn forums are structured around evaluation of draft rule changes. The draft conceptual rule text published was not a redline version, so we compared against WAC 314-55-560:
- The language changes from "marijuana" to "cannabis" were presumably part of the HB 1210 Implementation that hadn't been published online yet.
- Most substantially, the title and text of the chapter were expanded to cover processing as well as production of cannabis products.
- And in addition to "additives, solvents, ingredients or compounds," the board would arrogate the authority to ban "concentrates" used in production/processing.
- Definitions are added for "catalyst" and "extraction" which match language in HB 1668. However, another term present in HB 1668, “extract,” is defined more ambiguously in the draft rules. While the bill would have created new definitions for “distillate” and “isolate,” those terms are referenced in the draft rule definition of “extract” without elaboration. None of the new definitions are subsequently used in the draft rules.
- Finally, there were no substantive changes in "(3) Procedure" beyond expansion of scope to processing.
Friday July 29th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.