A substitute version of a bill expanding and revising the duties and membership of the State’s social equity in cannabis task force was narrowly recommended by its policy committee following a 5-4 party-line vote.
Of 19 cannabis-related bills closely tracked, roughly half were unable or unlikely to continue being moved past fiscal committee cutoff on Monday - where the social equity bill rocked on the cusp.
A rulemaking project on THC vapor products was completed while another on criminal histories was kicked off during Jane Rushford’s final board meeting as chair of the WSLCB.
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.
