The Week Ahead
(December 11, 2023)

WSDA - Pesticide Advisory Board

Following the annual pre-session WACA conference, the reconstituted WSDA Pesticide Advisory Board would host its inaugural meeting and begin advising the Department.

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

Monday December 11th

WACA - Symposium - 2023 - Beyond Canopy

On Monday at 11:25am PT, the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) 2023 Symposium panel titled, “Beyond Canopy: Revisiting and Revising How Washington Measures, Tracks, and Taxes Product to Effectively Regulate the Health of the Industry” was scheduled to occur.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • While WACA is a trade association, Cannabis Observer works in coordination with private entities that host events featuring public officials acting in their official capacities to document cannabis policymaking information of relevance.
  • WACA staff typically organize two annual events: one in the spring or summer following the State legislative session and another in the winter ahead of the upcoming legislative session. In 2022, the winter conference was billed as a “Legislative Preview” whereas this year’s event was framed as a more widely ranging “Symposium.” The organizers structure events to feature a mix of official and business representatives while creating opportunities for participants to address questions of panelists and sometimes deliberate in smaller groups.
  • The event organizers described the panel as follows: “From the width of a walkway to the reach of a healthy plant, Washington State’s canopy classifications have repeatedly fallen short as they pertain to the amount of producer output and informing public policy. Looking beyond Washington state and even beyond cannabis regulation, this session will explore alternatives to the current canopy system. Bring your point of view and experience to this critical conversation on effectively regulating cannabis and on real solutions to track what is grown that makes it to market legally…and what doesn’t.”
  • At publication time, the following panelists had committed to participate:
    • Corey Babb, Northwest Cannabis Solutions (NWCS) Director of Operation
    • Doug Henderson, Painted Rooster Cannabis Company CEO
    • Layke Martin, Nevada Cannabis Association Executive Director
    • Matt McCallum, WSLCB Enforcement Education Manager

WACA - Symposium - 2023 - One Plant

On Monday at 3pm PT, the WACA 2023 Symposium panel titled, “One Plant: Innovation of Cannabis and the Future of Use from the Farm Bill to the Pharmacy” was scheduled to occur.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The event organizers described the panel as follows: “Whether viewed as sacred, as relief, as a commodity or as a blight, the cannabis plant may be the most reverently appreciated and simultaneously deeply misunderstood plant in the world. With the stroke of a pen, execution of the 2018 Farm Bill freed hemp for greater use by more people…including those with the skill and resources to convert it to THC. Although the authors of the 2018 Farm Bill likely did not envision unregulated intoxicating hemp products, they are here. Where are we all going, and what are the necessary checks and balances on our way there? This session will explore recently passed legislation in Washington (SB 5367) as well as ongoing conversations regarding the 2023 Farm Bill and potential updates to hemp regulation.”
  • At publication time, the following panelists had committed to participate:
    • Jason Crowley, Fairwinds Manufacturing General Manager
    • Pamela Epstein, Terpene Belt Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer
    • Chris Fontes, High Spirits Beverages CEO
    • Shea Hynes, Lux Pot Shop Co-Founder
    • Chris Lindsey, ATACH Director of State Advocacy and Public Policy
    • Cassidy West, WSLCB Policy and Rules Manager

WACA - Symposium - 2023 - Legislative Panel

On Monday at 3pm PT, the WACA 2023 Symposium “Legislative Panel: Real World Application of Ideas” was scheduled to occur.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The event organizers described the panel as follows: “Following the robust conversations that have occurred throughout the day we will be joined by a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators who will help attendees explore next steps on some of these important issues. Whether short or long term approaches, this session will explore concrete ways we can impact cannabis policy in Washington.”
  • At publication time, the following panelists had committed to participate:

Tuesday December 12th

WSLCB - Board Caucus

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

Wednesday December 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.

Thursday December 14th

WSDA PAB - Board Meeting

On Thursday at 2pm PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture Pesticide Advisory Board (WSDA PAB) was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The WSDA Pesticide Advisory Board was initially established by the Washington State Legislature in 1994 and then was struck from the statute along with other state-funded boards and committees in 2010. The WSDA PAB was re-established in the 2023 legislative session (via HB 1019 codified in RCW 17.21.455 and RCW 17.21.460) to advise the WSDA Pesticide Management Division (WSDA PMD) on the Division's plans, actions, and ongoing or emerging significant issues related to pesticides in Washington state.
  • Membership on the board is expansive, representing very diverse interests, so it’s likely that concerns around cannabis may be a vanishingly small part of the conversations that occur.  Still, the WSLCB Director or their designee was allotted a non-voting membership on the WSDA PAB and would be represented by Matthew Murphy, Captain of the Enforcement and Education Eastern Washington Cannabis Unit.
    • The identification of DDx in some cannabis products in early 2023 reflected a multi-generational legacy of environmental pesticide usage on Washington agricultural lands which is not isolated to Okanogan County.  That contemporary concern and the somewhat high profile, multi-agency effort to remediate the problem may be of interest to any farmer working lands all across the state regardless of the commodities they grow.
  • According to the agenda, the first meeting would center on the introduction of the 13 voting and 18 non-voting members followed by election of leadership and discussion of the operations of the board.

Friday December 15th

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