WA Legislature - Update (January 26, 2024)
Senators moved legislation ahead seeking to study revision of cannabis excise tax policy and signaled interest in recommending their labor and “high THC” bills.
Senators moved legislation ahead seeking to study revision of cannabis excise tax policy and signaled interest in recommending their labor and “high THC” bills.
The House cannabis policy committee may only meet once more before the first cutoff, out-of-state ownership was moved in the Senate, and the potency tax bill was up for exec.
A study of changing product tax rates based on cannabinoid content divided cannabis sector interests, while a public health official supported further evaluation of the approach.
Legislation to reinforce vigilance over inversion and diversion was advanced, hemp in food was delayed, and legislators may not consider cannabis bills Wednesday until Senate calendaring.
Most supported an out-of-state ownership bill, but two people voiced concerns about the impact on social equity licensees, and a former opponent joined those testifying as ‘other.’
After a particularly busy Monday for cannabis-related legislation in both the Senate and House, representatives were scheduled to move the inversion/diversion bill on Tuesday.
Lawmaker questions focused on potential risks and negative outcomes during mostly supportive testimony on 2024 cannabis home growing legislation.
11 cannabis-related bills were scheduled for activity the week before the house of origin policy committee cutoff, as regulators closely followed to position and prepare accordingly.
Some legislators seemed eager to at least appear to be eager to earmark unapportioned cannabis excise tax revenue at the beginning of the third week of the 2024 regular session.
After a brisk week of cannabis policy committee activity in the House including consideration of several controversial bills, legislators were scheduled to address other topics until Monday.