Interstate commerce legislation was advanced in the Senate but delayed in the House, and cannabis packaging law changes drew support from the advocates who showed up.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Wednesday January 18th, the 10th day of the 2023 Regular Session.
My top 3 takeaways:
- Members of the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) recommended interstate commerce legislation - with the exception of one influential Democrat.
- Vice Chair Rebecca Saldaña, who served as the legislative Co-Chair for the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis (WA SECTF) and sponsored the social equity request bill from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB), withheld her recommendation for SB 5069 due to concerns she had heard voiced publicly and from her constituents that furthering social equity should be prioritized ahead of other changes in the cannabis sector.
- There were no amendments to the bill, and all of the other senators on the committee voted to recommend the legislation.
- Absent a fiscal note, the bill was referred to the Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE). Committee Chair Karen Keiser—the Vice Chair of WA Senate RULE—remarked that the legislation would stay there “until we have further action on cannabis issues.”
- Later that day, the executive session on SB 5123, “Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis,” sponsored by Keiser and scheduled for Thursday January 19th was removed from the meeting agenda.
- Although companion interstate commerce legislation had been scheduled for executive session in the House, the Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG) cancelled their Tuesday meeting that morning.
- HB 1159, “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements,” was initially bumped from its executive session on Monday and rescheduled for Tuesday before that meeting was cancelled.
- At publication time, an executive session for the bill had not been rescheduled.
- Legislators in each chamber’s environmental policy committee heard public testimony on a pair of companion bills aimed at "Improving Washington's solid waste management outcomes” which included provisions which would require cannabis processors to utilize post-consumer recycled content in their packaging.
- SB 5154 was heard by the Washington State Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee (WA Senate ENET) early on Tuesday afternoon. The far ranging legislation drew a large number of stakeholders and citizens to testify including environmental and business interests, but only a few commenters on the provisions impacting the cannabis sector.
- Ramsey Doudar, Patients and Users for Reasonable Policy (PURP) Founder, spoke in support of the provisions.
- Ezra Eickmeyer, representing hemp bioplastics company Terramer, concluded his remarks with a tangential reference to the cannabis provisions, claiming there was “no excuse for producing this much plastic to get people high," eliciting laughter in the room.
- Committee Chair Joe Nguyen announced that the hearing would be continued on Wednesday January 18th at 8am.
- HB 1131 was heard later on Tuesday afternoon by the Washington State House Environment and Energy Committee (WA House ENVI).
- Largely the same testimony was heard in the House, although Eickmeyer more directly addressed the cannabis provisions to offer the support of trade association Producers Northwest.
- SB 5154 was heard by the Washington State Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee (WA Senate ENET) early on Tuesday afternoon. The far ranging legislation drew a large number of stakeholders and citizens to testify including environmental and business interests, but only a few commenters on the provisions impacting the cannabis sector.