Observations

The Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force Technical Assistance and Mentorship Work Group was scheduled to discuss legislative proposals during an otherwise typical August week.

Following arguments from attorneys, a superior court judge ruled an Idaho businessman did not have standing to challenge the statute and rules creating residency requirements for cannabis licensees.

Members debated the future of the task force while discussing planned agency request legislation to create an Interagency Coordination Team (ICT) to regulate lab accreditation.

At the end of session, representatives considered two amendments to a bill permitting importation of CBD for use as a cannabis product additive before passing it to the Senate.

The agencies on the Cannabis Science Task Force were scheduled to describe their potential request legislation packages intended to create a new body for oversight of testing labs.

A presentation on the state medical marijuana program and confirmation of ongoing rulemaking for medical consultant certification preceded several questions by work group members.

An $81 annual fee collected from each cannabis licensee was assessed to pay for oversight of imported CBD additives before committee members recommended the bill for passage.

The full social equity task force would convene Tuesday, but cannabis policymaking appeared to be downshifting into the summer doldrums - usually the least active time of year.

Agency staff presented a new interpretive statement which offered no ‘safe harbor’ to licensees converting CBD into delta-9-THC, asserting the practice was not permitted under law.

The board received a short briefing on cannabis rulemaking, adopted a permanent ban on vitamin E acetate, and heard from a public eager to support farmers and consumers.