A public health researcher would discuss “Budtender Training Requirements” with WSLCB board members on Tuesday before a more or less full rulemaking agenda on Wednesday.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday September 23rd
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday September 24th
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 ]
- In addition to rulemaking updates in advance of the biweekly board meeting, the agenda allocated thirty minutes to hear from George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Prevention and Community Health Researcher Cassidy LoParco and discuss “Budtender Training Requirements in States with Active Non-Medical Cannabis Markets.”
- LoParco co-presented with WSLCB Research Manager Sarah Okey at the Research Society on Marijuana (RSMj) conference on July 20th regarding “Non-medical cannabis online retail practices in 5 US cities: 2022 to 2023.” The abstract concluded, “Increased use of social media, online cannabis retail, and delivery (especially without clear age verification procedures) presents risks for access and appeal to minors. Moreover, online retail tended to emphasize health benefits and use price promotions, regardless of restrictions, indicating need for greater regulatory efforts. Notably, the proportion of websites showing health warnings decreased over time, which is concerning given that each of these states mandates specific warnings at the point-of-sale, indicating additional risk with online retail. Additionally, the study revealed evidence of targeting specific subpopulations (e.g., youth, veterans, racial/ethnic minorities), indicating the need for increased surveillance among these populations and policies (and related enforcement) to restrict targeted marketing.”
- Earlier that month, LoParco was the lead author of the article “State Requirements for Non-Medical US Cannabis Retail Personnel” published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice on July 1st. LoParco’s co-authors included University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health Associate Professor of Health Administration and Health Policy Matthew Rossheim who researched the availability of semi-synthetic cannabinoids nationally and University of Washington Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute (UW ADAI) Cannabis Education and Research Program (CERP) Director Beatriz Carlini who, the week prior, chaired the institute’s symposium on "Cannabis, Schizophrenia, and Other Psychotic Disorders."
WA HCA - DBHR Listening Session
On Tuesday at 1:30pm PT, the monthly Washington State Health Care Authority (WA HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) Behavioral Health Service Provider Listening Session was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- The announcement indicated the agenda would include:
- “DBHR section updates”
- “Climate change and Behavioral Health”
Wednesday September 25th
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- According to recent updates, WSLCB Policy and Rules staff expected to present a wide range of potential rulemaking to board members for approval on Wednesday. But not all projects previously slated for movement would likely be presented.
- Petition Recommendation
- Social Equity Title Certificate Holders [ Rulemaking Petitions ]
- CR-101
- Identification Reform
- On August 13th, WSLCB Director of Policy and External Affairs Justin Nordhorn briefly mentioned a staff plan to open a new rulemaking project on "ID reform" which he said was in response to multiple petitions for rulemaking (audio < 30s, video - TVW). The rulemaking project was also listed among the subjects for “General Rulemaking - All Industries” in the agency’s semi-annual rulemaking agenda and slated to start on September 25th.
- In May 2023, representatives of large sport entertainment facilities aiming to adopt Amazon biometric identification technology filed an expansive petition about authorizing new forms of biometric IDs. Agency leaders were unclear if they had—or wanted—the authority to make such a change, leading to a legislative work session in the fall on the subject. However, that petition also included several other seemingly benign administrative code cleanup requests which were independently accepted by the Board in July 2023.
- Identification Reform
- CR-102
- Lab Authority Transfer [ Rulemaking Project ]
- As recently as August 27th, staff expected to stay on track to file proposed rules on September 25th. But two weeks later on September 10th, the projected timeline had been pushed back.
- At publication time, staff had not provided a revised milestone for publishing proposed rules, potentially pushing the statutorily required removal of WSLCB rules implementing no longer existing authorities out into 2025.
- Lab Authority Transfer [ Rulemaking Project ]
- CR-103
- Payment Flexibility [ Rulemaking Project ]
- SB 5080 Implementation [ Rulemaking Project ]
- Following a contentious public hearing on Wednesday September 11th, later that afternoon Nordhorn acknowledged the likelihood that staff may have to substantially revise their proposed rules. He affirmed that course of action, if taken, would necessitate filing a supplementary CR-102 and restarting the public comment cycle (audio - 3m, video - WSLCB, video - TVW).
- SB 5367 Implementation [ Rulemaking Project ]
- Also heard on September 11th and also subsequently discussed, Nordhorn was less certain that requested changes would require a substantive modification of proposed rules (audio - 4m, video - WSLCB, video - TVW).
- Public Hearing
- Product Samples [ Rulemaking Project ]
- Initiated via petition in July 2022, the very long running rulemaking project to revise vendor and educational product samples finally achieved CR-102 status on August 14th after Policy and Rules staff had repeatedly publicly declared that milestone, then pushed it back, seven times over the course of 15 months.
- Product Samples [ Rulemaking Project ]
Thursday September 26th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday September 27th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.