After having heard the production authority transfer bill on Friday, legislators planned to work over the holiday on Monday but were not scheduled to consider any cannabis-related legislation.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Monday January 20th, the 8th day of the 2025 regular session.
My top 3 takeaways:
- On Friday January 17th, the Washington State House Consumer Protection and Business Committee (WA House CPB) hosted a hearing where representatives from both the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) testified to several perceived challenges besetting the transfer of production authorities.
- HB 1067 - Cannabis Production Authority Transfer
- Committee Sign In (testifying + not testifying - duplicates = total)
- PRO: 4 + 31 - 0 = 35
- CON: 1 + 2 - 0 = 3
- OTHER: 2 + 0 - 0 = 2
- Adding some uncertainty to the totals, former King County Councilmember Joe McDermott signed in PRO but subsequently CON moments later, listing himself as the County "State Relations Director."
- While taking no position, agency remarks on a bill to move producer/processor regulation to WSDA raised questions of cost and timing, though all but one member of the public testified in favor.
- Committee Sign In (testifying + not testifying - duplicates = total)
- HB 1067 - Cannabis Production Authority Transfer
- Introductions of legislation went as planned on Friday and a new cannabis-related bill was readied for Monday regarding “suspension of inactive producer licenses.”
- SB 5347 - “Concerning organized retail theft.”
- Organized Retail Theft Definition
- On Friday, Senator Phil Fortunato introduced legislation to change the definition of “organized retail theft” to be inclusive of multiple thefts over a year which was referred to the Washington State Senate Law and Justice Committee (WA Senate LAW). At publication time, a public hearing on the bill had not been announced.
- SB 5348 - “Creating a sentencing enhancement for organized retail theft.”
- Organized Retail Theft Sentencing Enhancement
- Fortunato also introduced legislation to add a year to the sentencing range for property thefts in excess of $25K which was also referred to WA Senate LAW. Similarly, a public hearing on the bill had not been announced.
- HB 1410 - “Concerning the suspension of inactive cannabis producer licenses.”
- Inactive Production License Suspension
- On Monday, Representative Sam Low planned to introduce legislation requiring the WSLCB to suspend producer licenses issued under RCW 69.50.325 if the associated unified business identifier (UBI) tracked by the Washington State Department of Revenue (WA DOR) showed no business activity between July 2023 and December 2024. Suspended licenses would be “reissued” in two circumstances:
- “(A) Federal law allows for the interstate transfer of cannabis between authorized cannabis-related businesses; or
- “(B) The United States department of justice issues an opinion or memorandum allowing or tolerating the interstate transfer of cannabis between authorized cannabis-related businesses.”
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill was planned for referral to the WA House CPB during the chamber floor session starting at 10:30am [ TVW ].
- SB 5347 - “Concerning organized retail theft.”
- On Monday, legislators were not scheduled to take up cannabis-related legislation in committee.
- The House was scheduled to convene a floor session at 10:30am which was denoted as including a “Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.” The Senate planned to similarly convene at 12:30pm [ TVW ].