Observations

Legislators asked for additional information during testimony on a bill to expand the social equity program before an unscheduled WSLCB panel joined the hearing to field questions.

As policy committees reached the midpoint of time to consider bills from the opposite chamber, legislation banning cannabis infused alcohol was rescheduled for faster consideration in the Senate.

After renewing focus in policy committees, legislators announced plans to address the majority of active cannabis legislation the following week and begin work on the operating budget.

Legislators heard two cannabis bills on Tuesday on pre-employment testing for cannabis use and social equity, and would presumably not be moving two bills out of the Senate Rules x-file.

Committee members heard testimony in favor, opposed, and ‘other’ while seeking suggestions on THC levels for hemp products after the Senate decided any amount of THC was too much. 

The timeline before WSLCB expected to issue social equity licenses was made more clear, and leadership lauded a consumer advocate for engaging on education and social use policies.

Representatives got an earful about the WSLCB THC bill on Monday, and planned to take up social equity and pre-employment cannabis testing legislation on Tuesday.

Following the house of origin cutoff, 15 cannabis-related bills remained clearly active - but attention would be absorbed by uncertain ambitions around the WSLCB THC bill.

Three policy committees heard cannabis related bills, hosted a work session on the 20 year study of I-502, and began confirming gubernatorial appointments of WSLCB board members.

Senators amended and passed legislation to create a framework for establishing a Washington State Cannabis Commission hours before the house of origin gateway was closed.