Legislators planned to host work sessions in advance of the 2025 session which would occasion the final convening of the House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday December 9th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday December 10th
WSLCB - Board Caucus
The weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was cancelled.
- [ Event Details ]
- The week prior during caucus on Tuesday December 3rd, the unannounced departure of the Policy and Rules Manager emphasized how remaining rule actions for 2024 would be led by an Acting Manager, including withdrawal of a project on Employee Stock Ownership Plans.
- At publication time, the board remained without a Chair, the remaining two members sharing responsibilities as Acting Chair. If either member were unable to attend a meeting, quorum would be broken and the meeting would have to be cancelled - or could be rescheduled.
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
On Tuesday at 10:30am PT, the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG) was scheduled to convene a work session.
- [ Event Details ]
- “Social Equity Program Update”
- According to the event announcement, members were scheduled to hear an update on the cannabis social equity program.
- During the November 13th WSLCB Executive Management Team meeting, Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Webster mentioned preparations for the agency presentation included conferring with peers at the Washington State Department of Commerce who would also be presenting and who recommended coordination with the Washington State Office of Equity (audio - 1m, video - WSLCB, video - TVW).
- The work session would likely be the last convening of the WA House RSG as the committee would not be reconstituted for the 2025 legislative session; all cannabis-specific policymaking responsibilities would be shifted to the Washington State House Consumer Protection and Business Committee (WA House CPB).
- To Cannabis Observer’s knowledge, the WA House CPB had not previously considered cannabis-specific nor cannabis-adjacent legislation. Members hosted a work session on organized retail crime in late 2022 which didn't mention cannabis robberies.
- However, Representative Kristine Reeves was Vice Chair of WA House CPB last biennium and it’s Cannabis Observer’s understanding that Representative Melanie Morgan was working to be assigned to the committee - both of whom were previously assigned to WA House RSG.
- Former Representative Mike Chapman was sworn in to occupy former Senator Kevin Van De Wege's position on Friday December 6th, creating a vacant Democratic seat on the WA House CPB.
- Although no cannabis-specific items were on the agenda for their work session, WA House CPB members were scheduled to meet on Monday December 9th at 1:30pm for a “Review of the Current Insurance Market.”
WA House AGNR - Committee Meeting
On Tuesday at 1:30pm PT, the Washington State House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (WA House AGNR) was scheduled to convene a work session.
- [ Event Details ]
- According to the event announcement, members were scheduled to hear from Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) officials who may provide hemp or cannabis program updates.
- During the 2025-27 fiscal biennium, the Cannabis Lab Analysis Standards Program (CLASP) would be advocating to maintain 4.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions “to continue maintaining lab standards and to implement lab accreditation” at a projected cost of $1.7M.
Wednesday December 11th
WA HCA PRC - Quarterly Meeting
On Wednesday at 10:35am PT, the Washington State Health Care Authority Prevention Research Collaborative (WA HCA PRC) was scheduled to convene its quarterly meeting.
- [ Event Details ]
- Formerly the Washington State Health Care Authority Prevention Research Subcommittee (WA HCA PRSC), the WA HCA PRC provides a forum for prevention researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to identify and address emerging and evolving substance use disorder prevention and mental health promotion service and research needs in Washington state.
- Cannabis Observer sought out and was granted the opportunity to observe, but not record, the closed meetings of the body.
WSLCB - Executive Management Team
The monthly WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) meeting was cancelled.
- [ Event Details ]
- During the WSLCB Board Meeting on October 23rd, I called out a pattern of increased cancellations of EMT meetings during 2024 and encouraged members to host the events even if all staff members were unable to attend or make attempts to reschedule these windows into agency operations.
- With the cancellation of the December meeting, five out of 12 EMT meetings were cancelled in 2024—nearly half—more EMT meetings than were cancelled during the prior two years combined.
Thursday December 12th
WA Pharmacy Commission - Public Meeting
On Thursday at 9am PT, the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (WA Pharmacy Commission) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- Established in 1891, the WA Pharmacy Commission regulates the practice of pharmacy, and the distribution, manufacturing, and delivery of pharmaceuticals within and into the state. The commission protects and promotes public health and safety by issuing licenses, registrations, and certifications to qualified persons and entities and responding to complaints or reports of unprofessional conduct. The Commission is assigned the authority to enforce and change the schedule of controlled substances in Washington state.
- The agenda anticipated a “Presentation by Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA) Legislative Team.”
- While the Commission was not requesting any cannabis-related legislation in 2025, the larger HSQA division encompassed the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) medical cannabis program.
- Pre-filing of legislation for the 2025 session began on Monday December 2nd, and Representative Sam Low filed HB 1009, WA Pharmacy Commission request legislation to adjust their membership composition.
The Cannabis Alliance - Medical Cannabis Summit - 2024
On Thursday at 10am PT, the Cannabis Alliance Medical Cannabis Summit was scheduled to begin.
- [ Summit Details ]
- While the Alliance is a membership-based nonprofit organization, Cannabis Observer works with organizers to observe private events where public officials are scheduled to speak in their official capacities.
- According to the event website, the Summit aimed to bring “together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the current state and future of medical cannabis in Washington State and beyond.”
- The agenda included a panel discussion to “Engage with the Department of Health as we revisit key points from the 2023 Town Hall and discuss implications for the future.”
WA Senate TRAN - Committee Meeting
On Thursday at 4pm PT, the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee (WA Senate TRAN) was scheduled to convene a work session.
- [ Event Details ]
- The agenda included time for “Traffic safety updates” which would likely include officials from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC).
Friday December 13th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.