Observations

With few exceptions, the majority of cannabis legislation remained stationed in the House and Senate rules committees as legislators devoted their floor session time to other legislation.

The social equity bill made it through the opposite house fiscal committee gateway on Tuesday as legislators prepared for floor sessions and budget fights till sine die.

Representatives moved the WSLCB THC bill on Monday and would consider the social equity bill on Tuesday just ahead of the opposite house fiscal committee cutoff occurring that day.

Without guidance in defining ‘cannabinoid,’ consensus on its meaning or the scope of work for the group proved difficult, but agreement to prioritize regulatory issues emerged.

Regular committee work would draw to a close on Tuesday with the fiscal committee cutoff, and three significant cannabis bills remained at risk including THC and social equity legislation.

Hemp industry members opposed a bill on THC regulation, but an agency representative as well as several cannabis industry, public health, and substance prevention groups backed the move.

Legislators hosted a lopsided hearing on the WSLCB THC bill on Friday and planned to host an executive session on legislation to expand the social equity licensing program on Saturday.

As fiscal committees focused on legislation from the opposite chamber, representatives considered the social equity bill on Thursday and planned to review the revised THC bill Friday.

Legislation to proscribe pre-employment screening for cannabis use was passed in the House as officials and staff in both chambers worked to revise and pass their respective operating budget bills.

Delays at another agency were presented as cause for extending the social equity licensing application window before a short legislative update and a lengthy conversation about two rulemaking petitions.