WSLCB Enforcement and Education leaders would present an update on SB 5367, the “THC Bill,” before a public hearing on the agency’s proposed rules the next day.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday September 9th
WSIPP - Board of Directors Meeting
On Monday at 9:30am PT, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) Board of Directors were scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- In late July, Governor Jay Inslee appointed Pat Sullivan as Director of the Washington State Office of Financial Management (WA OFM) where he also assumed the WA OFM seat on the WSIPP Board of Directors. Sullivan was formerly Inslee’s Executive Director of Legislative Affairs.
- The appointment, coming late in Inslee’s final term as Governor, followed the departure of former WA OFM Director David Schumacher for a new role at the Washington State Investment Board (WSIB).
- As part of the reconfiguration, Inslee also promoted Sheri Sawyer from her role as Deputy Director of Policy and Outreach to Sullivan’s former role leading policy for the office. Sawyer had been very influential on cannabis policy issues throughout State legalization.
- Another WSIPP Director, Republican State Senator Mark Schoesler, was arrested on Saturday August 31st on suspicion of an alcohol DUI at the Ritzville Rodeo. After a witness saw him back into a parked vehicle twice while trying to leave, Schoesler was taken to jail and tested at 0.14 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), whereas the State limit is 0.08 BAC. At publication time, Schoesler was up for re-election in November and had been assigned to the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) where he helped direct cannabis—and alcohol—legislation.
Tuesday September 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 ]
- The week prior on Tuesday September 3rd, the caucus was cancelled on roughly one hour’s notice.
- On Tuesday September 10th, members would devote the first 30 minutes of their meeting to a “Review and Discussion of THC Bill – E2SSB 5367” led by Enforcement and Education Captain Jennifer Dzubay.
- Late on Thursday September 5th, WSLCB Communications announced raids on five bodegas in a shared marketplace in Lakewood, primarily for illegal alcohol and legend drug sales, but also inclusive of cannabis products in two of the stores.
Wednesday September 11th
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- The WSLCB Board had an extremely full docket of rulemaking to undertake on Wednesday according to recent updates from Policy and Rules staff.
- Petition Response
- Transporter Fulfillment Hub [ Rulemaking Petition ]
- CR-102
- SB 5376 Implementation [ Rulemaking Project ]
- The presentation of proposed rules to implement the cannabis waste bill may be influenced by the focus group hosted on Wednesday September 4th during which staff explained potential rule changes on sales of cannabis waste before participants gave input on how to reduce disposal costs and wider environmental impacts from the market.
- SB 5376 Implementation [ Rulemaking Project ]
- CR-103
- HB 1453 Implementation [ Rulemaking Project ]
- Public Hearing
- Payment Flexibility [ Rulemaking Project ]
- SB 5080 Implementation [ Rulemaking Project ]
- SB 5367 Implementation [ Rulemaking Project ]
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 ]
- During the last EMT meeting on Wednesday August 14th, agency leaders discussed request legislation including a possible hemp bill, applications advancing in the social equity program, the research program, and traceability updates. Unusually, EMT members also scheduled a presentation from the Education Program Manager about how notices to correct prohibited practices on promotions, discounts, and management agreements were impacting markets in response to a troubling spike in reports of conditional sales of product, or the expectation of “kickbacks” from some retail staff.
Thursday September 12th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday September 13th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.