Observations

After work group members identified themselves and staff went over scope and responsibilities, questions were raised about who could contract as a social equity mentor and how to qualify for grants.

Members introduced themselves, heard about their work group responsibilities, and began exploring potential changes to cannabis business licensing for social equity applicants.

During a briefing on the development of a social equity program at WSLCB, the Board Chair sought ways to act quickly once agency staff received guidance from the equity task force.

The Washington state Governor was scheduled to take action on the operating budget for the upcoming biennium, endorsing or vetoing fiscal appropriations for many government activities.

A mixed bag of topics included: a new CIO, hiring a DEI Manager, presentations for officials outside Washington, online licensing applications, and “pending” producer/processor licenses.

The board gave permission to start a new rulemaking project around “THC Compounds Other than Delta-9” and heard “frustrations” of a prominent cannabis association lobbyist.

The board heard a preview of a presentation to open a broad rulemaking project regulating THC compounds other than delta-9 and denied a petition to move a retail location.

A presentation on cannabis social equity programs outside Washington state showcased the benefits of using data to qualify equity applicants and risks of relying solely on racial identities.

On Wednesday, an important rulemaking project would be started at WSLCB to determine the fate of delta-8-THC in the regulated marketplace - and potentially much more.

The day before releasing a policy statement on delta-8-THC and other derived cannabinoids, board and staff discussed their work amidst often anecdotal input from stakeholders.