The published calendar for the first week of the 2024 regular session appeared relatively light on cannabis-related activity, but schedules can change quickly and regulatory activity continued.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday January 8th
WA Legislature - Session Begins
On Monday at 12pm PT, the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) planned to convene to begin the 2024 regular session.
- Members of the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) and the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) would convene for opening day ceremonies at noon. House of origin policy committee meetings would begin shortly thereafter as legislators sought to address a significant number of newly pre-filed bills in the 60-day short session of the 2023-24 legislative biennium.
- While the published cannabis-related calendar for the first week of the legislature appeared relatively light, things can change very quickly during session.Two additional cannabis-related bills were pre-filed on Friday January 5th which would likely be assigned to the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG) and initial public hearings scheduled for upcoming meetings.
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WA House APP - Committee Meeting
On Monday at 4pm PT, the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- Work Session
- "Presentation of the Governor’s proposed 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget by the Office of Financial Management."
- Legislative staff published the presentation and handout detailing highlights of the Governor’s proposed budget ahead of the work session.
- "Presentation of the Governor’s proposed 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget by the Office of Financial Management."
- Public Hearing
- HB 2104 - “Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.”
- The supplemental operating budget bills contained significant modifications of Dedicated Cannabis Account appropriations reflecting revised economic projections and a new agency study into hemp sector viability.
Tuesday January 9th
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 ]
- According to the agenda, board members were scheduled to receive their initial session update from Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Webster at the Tuesday caucus.
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 ]
- Public Hearing
- Curiously, planned executive sessions on these two cannabis-related bills from the 2023 session were reverted to public hearings on Friday January 5th even though both bills had been previously recommended for passage by WA House RSG members.
WA Senate TRAN - Committee Meeting
On Tuesday at 4pm PT, the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee (WA Senate TRAN) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- Public Hearing
- SB 5791 - “Concerning the evaluation of the effectiveness of oral fluid roadside information in the enforcement of driving under the influence laws.”
- As the bill language does not specify which substances WSP would be seeking to identify the presence of, Cannabis Observer intends to track this legislation.
WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting
On Tuesday at 4pm PT, the Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee (WA Senate WM) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- Public Hearing
- SB 5950 - “Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.”
Wednesday January 10th
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 ]
- The regular legislative affairs update from Webster at EMT would likely be lengthier and more substantial following the cannabis-related public hearings on Tuesday.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
On Wednesday at 4pm PT, the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- Public Hearing
- HB 2104 - “Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.”
Thursday January 11th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday January 12th
WA Pharmacy Commission - Legislative Review
On Friday at 12pm PT, the weekly Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (WA Pharmacy Commission) Legislative Review was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]