Observations

The technological leap into remote meetings required by the State’s response to the pandemic continued to challenge the WSLCB’s commitment to transparency.

Board members voted to extend their emergency ban on use of vitamin E acetate in vapor products for a third time while permanent rulemaking to formalize the prohibition continued.

Agency leadership discussed the WSLCB’s emerging plans for implementation of HB 2870’s marijuana social equity program and rulemaking timelines were advanced.

WSLCB cancelled most of its public meetings while the State Board of Health prepared to extend its vitamin E acetate prohibition and convene the Marijuana Social Equity Task Force.

Unnaturally, farmers still have to ask whether the State considers cannabis production an agricultural activity as the Governor issues a new round of emergency proclamations.

Stakeholders helped WSLCB continue developing a legislative mandate to enable licensees to request compliance education consultations and site visits under lessened threat of AVNs.

The WSLCB Board undertook planned actions to revise and renew existing emergency rules and restart the quality control rulemaking project on pesticides and heavy metals testing.

Members prepared to undertake formal rulemaking at the WSLCB’s first remote board meeting on Wednesday morning and met the agency’s new Policy and Rules Coordinators.

Cannabis-related policymaking in Washington state was set to take another step forward as the WSLCB prepared to convene its first regular board meeting since February 5th.

The Board and the Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe met virtually to amend and extend the nation’s oldest Marijuana Compact between a State and a Tribal Nation in addition to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Tribe’s business entity.