Observations

Testimony on legislation establishing a limited excise tax exemption for medical cannabis patients registered with the State painted an encouraging picture of potential impacts for patients and the regulated industry.

The second policy committee hearing on legislation extending arrest protections to all authorized medical cannabis patients elicited similar testimony and substantial sign in support.

WSLCB leadership presented a draft road map outlining a new approach to cannabis licensee compliance reporting in the state which incorporated many work group recommendations.

There’s a new Board Chair at WSLCB, policy committee public hearings on 5 bills plus a prevention work session in the Legislature, and a WSDA webinar on the hemp program.

Following passage by the House, legislation to modify and expand the State social equity in cannabis task force and program was heard by senators for the first time.

Legislation creating a voluntary hemp processor certification was unanimously passed by the Senate after adopting a striking amendment empowering WSLCB to test hemp found on licensed premises.

A bill to change statutory references from ‘marijuana’ to ‘cannabis’ garnered strong support in passage by the House, but not before a lawmaker complained about changing language “we've become accustomed to.”

A bill to exempt registered medical cannabis patients from paying the State excise tax on compliant products received a nod from members of both parties before passage.

Seven cannabis-related bills were already through the house of origin cutoff on Tuesday which would mark the halfway point of the 2021 Washington State legislative session.

Legislation to reshape the state’s social equity task force had two of three amendments adopted regarding “interested parties” and the effective date during its successful passage through the House.