Legislation representing the first effort in Washington state for broad decriminalization of personal possession of controlled substances including enhanced treatment and recovery services brought out the support of hundreds - and opposition from just ten people.
WSLCB Policy and Rules staff discussed circulating drafts of an agency policy statement on Delta-8-THC and their 2021 policy agenda, plus an imminent rulemaking project to reconsider the applicant criminal history point system.
In describing HB 1463, legislation that would require dilution of cannabis concentrates and limit access, WSLCB’s lobbyist said the agency wouldn’t support the bill as written but “we want to see if there’s anything we can do to help” going forward.
Sharply divided testimony and at times emotional appeals were presented during a public hearing on legislation to dilute cannabis concentrates and raise the legal purchase age to 25.
3 cannabis-related bills could join 9 others already through Monday’s cutoff deadline, and WSLCB planned to open a rulemaking project to reconsider the criminal history point system.
Legislation which would expand the scope of the state’s cannabis social equity program, assistance grants, and social equity task force received a welcoming policy committee hearing.
Testimony in the fiscal committee hearing on cannabis home grow was mostly positive with over one hundred people signed in support, while a small group voiced concerns about youth access and normalization.
Board members and staff discussed a new rulemaking project to reform agency judgment of criminal history records, the deliberative dialogues, and media coverage of home grow legislation.
Written testimony submitted regarding HB 1019, a bill dealing with adult cannabis cultivation, revealed a large amount of encouraging feedback and a couple of dissenting critiques.
Of 19 bills closely tracked, five were out of committee and seven were scheduled for action this week - including new bills to limit cannabis concentrates and a drug decriminalization bill.
