Policy and Rules Manager Kathy Hoffman walked the board through the past, present, and future of WSLCB regulation of cannabinoids aside from delta-9-THC in legal cannabis products.
Legislation expanding the membership and responsibilities of the social equity task force was signed into law, strengthening an influential movement in the Washington state cannabis sector.
Deliberative work characteristic of the interim between legislative sessions began in earnest this week with social equity, medical marijuana, and behavioral health events on the calendar.
The Board proposed rules to double tier 1 producer canopy and heard comments calling for incentivized medical cannabis production and regulation of delta-8-THC.
In concurring with revised legislation to re-enact drug possession offenses while expanding treatment and recovery offerings, lawmakers positioned Washington state to move away from a punitive approach to issues of drug use while further dismantling the so-called war on drugs.
House lawmakers shared personal accounts of how drug use had impacted their lives while deeply amending Senate legislation to re-enact drug possession offenses.
Only two cannabis-specific bills were passed before the end of the 2021 Washington state legislative session; we speculate about factors in play during a complex and busy interim.
Over Republican opposition, the committee approved a striking amendment on legislation to re-criminalize drug possession with reduced penalties while expanding prevention and treatment offerings.
No one spoke in favor of a bill re-criminalizing drug possession and expanding treatment diversion programs; critics said it reinstituted prohibition while government advocates stressed the costs of implementation.
Senators debated a legislative response to the State v. Blake decision and adopted a striking amendment making possession of controlled substances a misdemeanor, creeping further back towards criminalization of public health concerns.
