After the house of origin fiscal committee cutoff, 18 cannabis bills remained active—one less than expected—as legislators prepared for floor debate over the next week and a half.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday February 27th
WA House - Session
On Monday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) planned to convene in session.
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- Following the house of origin fiscal committee cutoff on Friday February 24th, legislators would focus efforts on floor sessions to debate, amend, and move bills out of their respective chambers before the house of origin cutoff on Wednesday March 8th at 5pm PT. At publication time, 135 bills were positioned for second reading in the House including one cannabis bill:
- HB 1772 - “Prohibiting products that combine alcohol and tetrahydrocannabinol.”
- The Washington State House Rules Committee (WA House RUL) would exercise considerable influence by enabling its members to pull bills to the floor calendar. At publication time, there were 574 bills assigned to WA House RUL including six cannabis bills.
- HB 1159 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
- HB 1249 - “Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products.”
- HB 1453 - “Providing a tax exemption for medical cannabis patients.”
- HB 1563 - “Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis.”
- HB 1650 - “Requiring voter approval for local government prohibitions on cannabis businesses.”
- HB 1822 - “Concerning complimentary products provided by short-term rental operators to guests.”
- Conspicuously absent from these lists of active bills was HB 1614, home grow legislation that had appeared poised to be advanced on Friday February 24th in the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP). After a long day of executive activity, the legislation was positioned to lead the final group of bills over the finish line. But Chair Timm Ormsby—a co-sponsor of the legislation—returned from caucus to report the bill had been “removed from consideration” (audio < 1m, video).
WA Senate - Session
On Monday at 10:30am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) planned to convene in session.
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- At publication time, 133 bills were positioned for second reading in the Senate including two cannabis bills:
- At publication time, there were 398 bills assigned to the Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE) including seven cannabis bills.
- SB 5080 - “Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program.”
- SB 5340 - “Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products.”
- SB 5363 - “Concerning cannabis retailer advertising.”
- SB 5367 - “Concerning the regulation of products containing THC.”
- SB 5376 - “Allowing the sale of cannabis waste.”
- SB 5377 - “Concerning cannabis license ownership.”
- SB 5546 - “Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission.”
Tuesday February 28th
WA House - Session
On Tuesday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) planned to convene in session.
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WA Senate - Session
On Tuesday at 10am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) planned to convene in session.
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WSLCB - Board Caucus
On Tuesday at 10am PT, the weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.
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WA HCA - DBHR Listening Session
On Tuesday at 1:30pm PT, the monthly Washington State Health Care Authority (WA HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) Behavioral Health Service Provider Listening Session was scheduled to recur.
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Wednesday March 1st
WA House - Session
On Wednesday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) planned to convene in session.
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WA Senate - Session
On Wednesday at 9am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) planned to convene in session.
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WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
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- On Wednesday, board members were scheduled to approve the opening of the Product Samples rulemaking project by authorizing the filing of a CR-101.
Thursday March 2nd
WA House - Session
On Thursday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) planned to convene in session.
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WA Senate - Session
On Thursday at 9am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) planned to convene in session.
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WSLCB - Work Group - QC Standards - Public Meeting
On Thursday at 10am PT, the WSLCB Quality Control Standards Work Group (WSLCB - Work Group - QC Standards) was scheduled to convene for its bi-monthly meeting.
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- The first meeting of the QC Standards Work Group was hosted on January 5th.
Friday March 3rd
WA House - Session
On Friday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) planned to convene in session.
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WA Senate - Session
On Friday at 9am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) planned to convene in session.
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WA Pharmacy Commission - Public Meeting
On Friday at 9am PT, the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (WA Pharmacy Commission) was scheduled to convene their monthly public meeting.
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- No cannabis-specific items would be considered by the Commission during either day of their two-day business meeting, but commissioners would hear a legislative affairs update on Friday.
Saturday March 4th
WA House - Session
On Saturday at 9am PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) reserved time to potentially convene in session.
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WA Senate - Session
On Saturday at 9am PT, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) reserved time to potentially convene in session.
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Sunday March 5th
WA House - Session
On Sunday at 1pm PT, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) reserved time to potentially convene in session.
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