Seattle Councilmembers would consider a trio of bills on worker and social equity in the cannabis sector and the Hemp in Food Task Force planned to convene for the third time.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday August 15th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday August 16th
WSLCB - Board Caucus
On Tuesday at 10am PT, the weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
Wednesday August 17th
City of Seattle - City Council - Committee - Finance and Housing - Committee Meeting
On Wednesday at 9:30am PT, the bi-weekly Seattle City Council Finance and Housing Committee (City of Seattle - City Council - Committee - Finance and Housing) Committee Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- A trio of bills related to worker and social equity in the cannabis sector, drafted by the Mayor’s office and originally planned for introduction on August 2nd, were instead introduced on August 9th before referral to the Finance and Housing Committee.
- After skipping their regular bi-weekly meeting on August 3rd, the Finance and Housing Committee convened a special meeting on August 11th and received staff briefings on the ordinances and potential amendments.
- On Wednesday, members planned to convene to deliberate on and potentially amend the three bills prior to voting on their recommendation out of committee.
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- Policy and Rules staff planned to present a CR-105 request to open expedited rulemaking on a project to update contact information in the agency rules.
- Members would also hear a recommendation to deny a petition for rulemaking to permit standalone producers to package and sell end products directly to retailers rather than utilizing a processor as required by current law.
WA Hemp in Food Task Force - Meeting
On Wednesday at 1pm PT, the Washington State Hemp in Food Task Force (WA Hemp in Food Task Force) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- During the 2022 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature passed a budget proviso directing the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to appoint a Washington State Hemp in Food Task Force. The task force will make recommendations to the Legislature about regulations and guidance for hemp in food. Those recommendations are due to the appropriate legislative committees by December 1, 2022.
- Starting in late May, Cannabis Observer reached out to WSDA Food Safety leadership and staff to secure permission to observe the proceedings of the task force. Due to staff turnover and miscommunications, we were not permitted to directly observe the first two meetings of the task force on July 20th and August 3rd. The first meeting of the task force was recorded by the meeting facilitator, Steven Byers of the Athena Group, but the second meeting was not.
- The WSDA contract with the Athena Group also encompassed responsibility for convening the Washington State Hemp Commission Task Force, similarly established by budget proviso and requiring a report to the legislature. Unlike the Hemp in Food Task Force report, which will be written by WSDA staff, the Hemp Commission report will be authored by the Athena Group. Cannabis Observer has no visibility into the Hemp Commission proceedings at this time.
Thursday August 18th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday August 19th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.