WA Legislature - Update
(February 27, 2025)

WA Legislature - Update (February 27, 2025) - Takeaways

Cannabis-related legislation had mostly been paused ahead of the House of Origin Fiscal Committee Cutoff on Friday, but the cannabis retailer advertising bill was positioned for movement on Thursday.

Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Thursday February 27th, the 46th day of the 2025 regular session.

My top 4 takeaways:

  • On Wednesday, leaders in the Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE) did not advance any of the cannabis-related or adjacent legislation referred to the body.
    • At publication time, three cannabis-related bills remained assigned to the WA Senate RULE for review:
      • SB 5403 - Cannabis Retail Financial Interest
      • SB 5700 - DOH Patient Data Sharing
      • SB 5758 - Social Equity Buffer Zones
    • One adjacent bill was also ready for calendaring:
      • SB 5290 - Pre-Hearing SUD Treatment
    • At publication time, the next meeting of the WA Senate RULE had not been announced.
  • There were no introductions of cannabis-related legislation on Wednesday, and none planned for Thursday.
    • The draft introduction report in the House for Thursday February 27th did not appear to include new cannabis-related legislation, reflecting the complications besetting introduction of legislation after the House of Origin Policy Committee Cutoff.
      • There were no bills scheduled for introduction in the Senate.
  • On Thursday, the cannabis retailer advertising bill was scheduled for a potential executive session and the chambers would undertake pro forma floor sessions in the lead up to the House of Origin Fiscal Committee Cutoff on Friday February 28th.
    • 1:30pm: WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
      • SB 5206 - Cannabis Retailer Advertising
        • Republican Deputy Leader Drew MacEwen introduced a reprise of his 2023-24 bill SB 5363 which was not advanced by representatives prior to the opposite house cutoff in 2024.  The bill would change requirements for retail advertising signage and transfer authority over trade name signs from the WSLCB to local jurisdictions.
        • During the public hearing in WA Senate LC on Monday February 10th, cannabis sector interests presented an uncharacteristically unified message of support for the legislation.  The bill was resisted by public health and prevention representatives who framed the measure as increasing retail advertising, overburdening local jurisdictions, and threatening normalization of cannabis retailers as legitimate businesses in communities.
        • During the executive session on Tuesday February 18th, SB 5206 was recommended without changes.
        • The committee report was read during the Senate floor session on Wednesday February 19th and the bill was referred to the Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee (WA Senate WM) for fiscal review.  A public hearing on the legislation was scheduled the next day.
        • During the public hearing on Monday February 24th, WA Senate WM Outlook Coordinator Corban Nemeth provided a comprehensive briefing of the bill’s effects (audio - 4m, video - TVW).  Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Executive Director and Lobbyist Vicki Christophersen testified in favor of the legislation, emphasizing the distinction between advertising and trade name signs; the movement of control of trade name signs to local jurisdictions; and confusion over the WSLCB fiscal note as she expected less need for enforcement attention (audio - 1m, video - TVW).  WASAVP President Linda Thompson testified against the legislation, reiterating her organization’s opposition to any expansion of cannabis advertising and concern about increased youth exposure to cannabis signs (audio - 1m, video - TVW).  Senators had no questions for either staff or those testifying.
        • On Monday morning before the hearing, a potential executive session on the legislation was scheduled for the committee meeting on Thursday.
          • At publication time, no amendments on the legislation had been published.
    • At publication time, five cannabis-related bills were assigned to fiscal committees and were at risk of becoming inactive if not moved prior to the House of Origin Fiscal Committee Cutoff on Friday February 28th.
    • Also on Thursday, the House planned to convene a pro forma floor session at 9:55am [ TVW ] and the Senate planned to convene a pro forma floor session at 10:00am [ TVW ].