A selection of events reflecting the diversity and complexity of the Cannabis sativa plant were scheduled by the WSLCB, WSU, WTSC, DOH, and Cannabis Alliance during the week.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday October 14th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday October 15th
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 ]
- WSLCB Enforcement and Education staff were scheduled to present information about the agency contract with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) to conduct inspections of tobacco retailers. The fiscal year 2023 contract with the US FDA brought in $1.3M to the agency.
- During the Tuesday October 8th caucus, staff provided rulemaking updates and reviewed actions set for the next day including THC regulation, identification reform, product samples, and a new type of employee benefit plan.
WSU CCPRO - Cannabis Research Seminar
On Tuesday at 4pm PT, the Washington State University Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach (WSU CCPRO) would host a lecture in the Cannabis Research Seminar Series.
- [ Event Details ]
- Emphasizing the “Research” and “Outreach” aspects of its name, the WSU CCPRO helped organize a lecture series highlighting the diverse work in and around the plant Cannabis sativa L. undertaken by WSU faculty and students.
- During the first seminar of the series on October 1st, WSU Molecular Plant Sciences Ph.D. candidate Camille Wagstaff presented a lecture titled "Curly Top and Purple Top in Washington Hemp" evaluating the increasing spread of plant pathogens in the Columbia Basin through beet leafhoppers including impacts on cannabis and hemp plants.
- On Tuesday during the second seminar, WSU Molecular Plant Sciences Ph.D. Candidate Jeremy Boutin will provide a lecture titled, "Unraveling the Mechanism of Acyclic Terpene Synthases in Cannabis Sativa"
Wednesday October 16th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Thursday October 17th
WTSC - Commission Meeting
On Thursday at 10am PT, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) was scheduled to convene its quarterly meeting.
- [ Event Details ]
- According to the agenda, commissioners and staff allocated thirty minutes to discuss “Why? 51% Increase in Fatalities Since 2019.”
- See the WTSC Traffic Fatalities dashboard to review data collected since 2014, which indicates an impaired driver has been involved in 49% of the incidents reported.
- On October 3rd, WTSC staff announced the publication of the 2024 Washington Traffic Safety Survey Results, a voluntary survey of more than 10K Washingtonians collecting their sentiments and views about traffic safety. At publication time, two years of data had been collected and made available through a dashboard, summary infographics for 16 Target Zero Regions, data compendiums (Excel spreadsheets), and technical documentation providing the survey methodology and sampling plan.
DOH - Webinar - Medical Cannabis Workshop
On Thursday at 12:30pm PT, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) staff planned to host a webinar on the medical cannabis rulemaking project.
- [ Event Details, Rulemaking Project ]
- DOH program staff undertook revision of the entire medical cannabis chapter of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) in late 2022. They had previously hosted workshops on parts of the chapter in September 2023, February 2024, and July 2024.
- On Thursday, staff would seek additional feedback on a draft revision of WAC 246-70-050 (“Quality assurance testing”).
The Cannabis Alliance - Town Hall - Bridging the Divide Between Cannabis and Hemp
On Thursday at 3pm PT, the Cannabis Alliance planned to host a second town hall event dedicated to strategic discussion about revising the regulatory framework for cannabis and hemp in Washington state.
- [ Event Details ]
- While the Alliance is a membership-based non-profit organization, 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.
- The event announcement indicated the “virtual event is designed to foster dialogue and collaboration between the cannabis and hemp industries, addressing common challenges and exploring opportunities for synergy.”
- The Alliance hosted an initial town hall event on the subject on August 15th.
- At publication time, it was Cannabis Observer’s understanding that State officials from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and WSLCB had been invited to participate.
Friday October 18th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.