Observations

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.

Three cannabis bills made it through the house of origin gateway in the final hours on Wednesday as legislators returned to policy committee work for the following three weeks.

Following the calendaring of one bill on Tuesday, four cannabis bills were positioned for action in the Senate - but time was running out before the house of origin cutoff on Wednesday at 5pm.

After changes were not broadly supported by industry stakeholders, staff proposed ending cannabis canopy rulemaking in favor of an interpretive statement, leading to questions from the board.

An odd couple of cannabis bills were advanced to the Senate floor while seven remained in their respective rules committees ahead of house of origin cutoff on Wednesday evening.

Legislators had hundreds of bills to consider before the house of origin cutoff on Wednesday, then policy committees would renew activity - including on the first cannabis zombie bill.