Observations

The Board heard the latest information on the vaping-related public health scare and Washington state’s response in preparation for emergency rulemaking.

The Washington State Board of Health planned to adopt emergency rules prohibiting the sale of “flavored vapor products” including “marijuana-infused extracts or marijuana concentrates for inhalation.”

The Board approved proposed rules for vapor products and heard testimony calling for increased opportunities for African Americans in the 502 market.

The Board prepared to hasten new vapor product rules along towards implementation and learned rulemaking would be restarted to consider canopy adjustments for Tier 1 producers.

On Wednesday, WSLCB will propose changes to vapor product rules in the wake of Governor Inslee’s executive order “ADDRESSING THE VAPING USE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.”

The agency gathered feedback on the expansive rewrite of rules covering administrative violation notices (AVNs) required by SB 5318, the Enforcement reorganization bill.

The Director briefed on the agency’s request legislation and the vaping-related health scare, which includes a new lawsuit in Pierce County filed against six cannabis product manufacturers.

This week: a new WSLCB Traceability 2.0 work group, the Cannabis Penalties listen and learn forum, and Ecology’s Cannabis Science Task Force Steering Committee convenes.

The latest on all open rulemaking projects including a signal that WSLCB intends to modify vapor product regulation in response to a widely publicized health scare.

The WSLCB’s Cannabis 2.0 project is garnering the attention of leadership at other state agencies ahead of the 2020 legislative session.