Although only five cannabis-specific bills were pre-filed, the convening of the Washington State Legislature portended significant changes to the policy landscape and operating environment.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday January 9th
WA Legislature - Session Begins
On Monday at 10am PT, the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) would convene for its annual regular session.
- Following party caucus meetings, Representatives and Senators would converge for opening ceremonies at noon then break for initial policy committee meetings at 1:30pm.
- Among 211 bills pre-filed by members of the Washington State Senate (WA Senate), three were cannabis-specific:
- SB 5123 - "Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis."
- SB 5069 - "Allowing interstate cannabis agreements."
- SB 5080 - "Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program."
- SB 5080 is Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) agency request legislation sponsored by Senator Rebecca Saldaña, the legislative Co-Chair of the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis (WA SECTF).
- Among 192 bills pre-filed in the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House), two were cannabis-specific:
- HB 1083 - "Concerning terms of payment for cannabis retailers."
- HB 1083 would allow NET 15 payment terms between cannabis retailers and processors.
- HB 1159 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
- Filed three weeks after SB 5069, HB 1159 contained clerical corrections and other minor changes which preclude the bills from technically being marked as companions - but they are largely identical.
- HB 1083 - "Concerning terms of payment for cannabis retailers."
- Following introductions in the House and Senate on Monday, all five cannabis-specific bills were scheduled for initial policy committee public hearings on Tuesday.
Tuesday January 10th
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 Senate LC - Committee Meeting
On Tuesday at 10:30am PT, the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- Formerly the Washington State Senate Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs Committee (WA Senate LCTA), the scope of the primary Senate cannabis policy committee was reconfigured for the 2023-24 biennium.
- The membership of the committee also appeared to have been modified.
- Dropping from nine to eight members, Senator Ann Rivers was no longer listed as a member at publication time, shifting the Democratic majority to 5-3.
- Senator Derek Stanford, formerly the Vice Chair of Commerce and Tribal Affairs, was replaced by Senator Rebecca Saldaña.
- Public Hearing
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
On Tuesday at 4pm PT, the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- Formerly the Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG), the scope of the primary House cannabis policy committee was reconfigured for the 2023-24 biennium.
- The membership of the committee was not available at publication time.
- On December 21st, the Washington State House Democratic Caucus announced that Shelley Kloba and Sharon Wylie had been elected Co-Chairs of the WA House RSG.
- Public Hearing
Wednesday January 11th
WA Hemp in Food Task Force - Meeting
On Wednesday at 1pm PT, the Washington State Hemp in Food Task Force (WA Hemp in Food Task Force) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- The WA Hemp in Food Task Force last convened on December 21st to loosely discuss hemp industry-led draft legislation on the inclusion of cannabinoids in hemp products. Members did not further discuss the question of recommended tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels in hemp products.
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 ]
- While an agenda was not available at publication time, agency leadership previously committed to hosting a more thorough public review of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) meeting hosted in Florida at the January EMT meeting.
Thursday January 12th
WIDAC - Council Meeting
On Thursday at 9am PT, the Washington Impaired Driving Advisory Council (WIDAC) planned to convene for its quarterly meeting.
- [ Event Details ]
- The WIDAC last convened on October 13th.
- The WIDAC is organized by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) which last convened on October 20th in part to hear how methodology changes to improve the identification of poly-drugged driving incidents revealed significant historical overreporting of cases involving cannabis.
Friday January 13th
WA Pharmacy Commission Legislative Committee - Public Meeting
On Friday at 12pm PT, the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission Legislative Committee (WA Pharmacy Commission Legislative Committee) was scheduled to convene their monthly public meeting.
- [ Event Details ]
- After cancelling their last few meetings, Committee members planned to resume weekly meetings through the duration of the legislative session.
- WA Pharmacy Commission staff and assistant attorneys general review relevant bills during session, including most legislation regarding controlled substances. A late draft of the WSLCB agency request legislation on THC regulation—which was not pre-filed—included the following mention of a potentially important role for the commission in section 5: “Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person may manufacture, sell, or distribute cannabis, cannabis concentrates, useable cannabis, or cannabis-infused products, or any cannabis products without a valid license issued by the board or [Pharmacy Quality Assurance] commission.”