Aside from a WSDA public hearing on seed services, officials continued to pre-file legislation, analyze the governor’s proposed budget, and rest into the holidays.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday December 20th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Tuesday December 21st
WSDA - Public Hearing - Seed Services
On Tuesday at 9am PT, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) planned to host a public hearing on the Seed Services rulemaking project.
- [ Event Details, Rulemaking Project ]
- WSDA staff have undertaken revision of rules governing seed services including inspection fees and certification processes, most recently restarting a long-running rulemaking project in April.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
The weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was cancelled.
- [ Event Details ]
Wednesday December 22nd
WSLCB - Board Meeting
The bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was cancelled.
- [ Event Details ]
Thursday December 23rd
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday December 24th
The State of Washington recognizes the Christmas holiday.
2022 WA Legislative Session
The short session of the 2021-22 biennium was scheduled to begin on Monday January 10th, 2022. In 2021, only 5 cannabis-related bills were signed into law - and, of those, only two bills had direct policy ramifications for cannabis and hemp:
- HB 1443 - "Concerning social equity within the cannabis industry."
- SB 5372 - "Concerning a hemp processor registration process."
In January, inactive cannabis-related bills from the 2021 session would be re-introduced in their house of origin. Meanwhile, pre-filing of new bills had been underway since Monday December 6th.
Cannabis-Related Legislation - Pre-Filed
SB 5517 - “Concerning employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis.”
- [ Legislation ]
- Sponsors (2): Karen Keiser, Rebecca Saldaña
- Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 8)
- Next Step: introduction (Jan 10)
- With some exceptions, the bill would make it unlawful to refuse to hire or fire an employee should the results of a drug screening test indicate the presence of cannabis.
SB 5547 - “Expanding regulatory authority over cannabinoids that may be impairing and providing for enhanced product safety and consumer information disclosure about marijuana products.”
- [ Legislation ]
- Requested By: WSLCB
- Sponsors (2): Karen Keiser, Mark Schoesler
- Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 16)
- Next Step: introduction (Jan 10)
- One of two highly anticipated agency request bills from WSLCB, this bill would grant the board broad authority to regulate all “cannabinoids that may be impairing.” However, in crafting that authority, this 20-page bill would rewrite many fundamental definitions underpinning the Initiative 502 marketplace.
- SB 5547 was pre-filed within hours of the publication of Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed 2022 supplemental budget on December 16th. The budget signaled the Office of the Governor’s approval of the request legislation through the proposed appropriation of $278K for WSLCB to implement “Cannabinoid Regulation.” The Washington State Patrol (WSP) would also be allotted $1.655M to support “Cannabinoid Regulation” as “Expanding regulatory authority over potentially impairing cannabinoids will require more enforcement staff at the Liquor and Cannabis Board and more sophisticated equipment at the Washington State Patrol crime laboratory.”