The Week Ahead
(January 10, 2022)

19 Cannabis-Related Bills

As the 2022 Washington state legislative session began on Monday, 12 cannabis-related bills had been pre-filed for introduction and 7 would be reintroduced from 2021.

Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.

Monday January 10th

WA Legislature - 2022 Session Begins

On Monday, the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) was scheduled to begin the short session of the 2021-22 biennium.

DOE - Cannabis Science Task Force Steering Committee

On Monday at 9am PT, the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) Cannabis Science Task Force (CSTF) Steering Committee was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The CSTF Steering Committee last met on December 7th. At publication time, the group was finalizing its work.
    • DOE staff completed the second summary report from the task force, a 414-page work titled, Cannabis Science Task Force Recommendations: Cannabis Laboratory Quality Standards and Proficiency Testing.
    • At the prompting of their representatives on the task force, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) staff requested legislation (HB 1859 and SB 5699) to transition authority for laboratory quality standards to WSDA and establish an interagency coordination team (ICT) to further define those standards.
    • Information which didn’t make it into the report was being compiled into a memorandum for WSLCB staff to deliver to the ICT upon its eventual formation.
  • The agenda for Monday’s meeting included 35 minutes for “Steering Committee Reflections” as members move towards the completion of work begun in August 2019.

WA House APP - Committee Meeting

On Monday at 3:30pm PT, the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The Governor’s proposed supplemental operating budget would be the subject of a public hearing on HB 1816, “Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.”

Tuesday January 11th

WA House COG - Committee Meeting

On Tuesday at 8am PT, the Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG) was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • The primary cannabis policy committee in the House planned to consider HB 1710, “Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission.” HB 1710 is an evolution of SB 5365 which was introduced in 2021. It’s Cannabis Observer’s understanding that the Cannabis Alliance continued to lead development of this bill.

WSLCB - Board Caucus

On Tuesday at 10am PT, the weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.

WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting

On Tuesday at 4pm PT, the Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee (WA Senate WM) was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Senators would also consider the Governor’s proposed supplemental operating budget during a public hearing on SB 5693, “Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations,” the Senate companion bill to HB 1816.

Wednesday January 12th

WSLCB - Executive Management Team

On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the three-member Board and agency leadership were scheduled to convene their monthly WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) meeting.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Agency leadership will likely receive an update from Director of Legislative Relations Chris Thompson providing initial analysis of cannabis-, alcohol-, vapor-, and tobacco-related bills in play during the session, including two very significant WSLCB request bills:
    • HB 1668 and SB 5547 - “Expanding regulatory authority over cannabinoids that may be impairing and providing for enhanced product safety and consumer information disclosure about marijuana products.”
    • HB 1859 and SB 5699 - “Concerning quality standards for laboratories conducting cannabis analysis.”

Thursday January 13th

WA House COG - Committee Meeting

On Thursday at 1:30pm PT, the WA House COG was scheduled to convene.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • In what could be a dynamic public hearing, representatives would consider the WSLCB request legislation regarding regulation of cannabinoids, HB 1668, “Expanding regulatory authority over cannabinoids that may be impairing and providing for enhanced product safety and consumer information disclosure about marijuana products.”

Friday January 14th

WA House COG - Committee Meeting

On Friday at 10am PT, the WA House COG was scheduled to convene.

2022 WA Legislative Session

The short session of the 2021-22 biennium was scheduled to begin on Monday January 10th, 2022. Inactive cannabis-related bills from the 2021 session would be re-introduced in their house of origin and pre-filing of new bills began Monday December 6th.

Budget-Related Legislation - Pre-Filed (2)

NEW: HB 1816 - “Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (2): Timm Ormsby, Mia Gregorson
  • Companion: SB 5693
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 6)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House APP (Jan 10)
  • Following Step: public hearing in WA House APP (Jan 10)

NEW: SB 5693 - “Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (2): Christine Rolfes, Linda Wilson
  • Companion: HB 1816
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 6)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA Senate WM (Jan 10)
  • Following Step: public hearing in WA Senate WM (Jan 11)

Cannabis-Related Legislation - Pre-Filed (12)

HB 1667 - “Concerning ownership of cannabis-related businesses.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors: Sharon Wylie
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 20, 2021)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House COG (Jan 10)
  • This bill was brought forward by Lukas Hunter of Harmony Farms drawing from his direct experience as a WSLCB staffer and subsequent consultations with WSLCB staff to understand their concerns. The bill would establish a 10% ownership threshold to initiate more thorough WSLCB vetting. For investigation of out-of-state owners, the bill would provide WSLCB staff with discretion to assess additional fees. The bill as written attempts to minimally and directly enable out-of-state ownership.
  • Meanwhile, the out-of-state ownership lawsuit brought by Todd Brinkmeyer was resolved in Thurston County Superior Court in July, and taken up again in federal court in November. Both parties have committed to filing their respective motions for summary judgment by February 1st. Responses and replies will be finished by mid-March. We're likely to see oral arguments and a decision after that.

HB 1668 - “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): Shelley Kloba, Sharon Wylie
  • Companion: SB 5547
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 20, 2021)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House COG (Jan 10)
  • Following Step: public hearing in WA House COG (Jan 13)
  • 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.” In crafting that authority, this 20-page bill would rewrite many fundamental definitions underpinning the Initiative 502 marketplace.

HB 1681 - “Modifying the requirements for vacating conviction records.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (2): Tarra Simmons, Drew Hansen
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 21, 2021)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House PS (Jan 10)

HB 1710 - “Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (1): Sharon Shewmake
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 28, 2021)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House COG (Jan 10)
  • Following Step: public hearing in WA House COG (Jan 11)
  • An evolution of SB 5365

NEW: HB 1827 - “Creating the community reinvestment account and community reinvestment program.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Requested By: WA Governor
  • Sponsors (1): Melanie Morgan
  • Companion: SB 5706
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 6)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House CED (Jan 10)

NEW: HB 1855 - “Concerning a craft cannabis endorsement.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (2): Emily Wicks, Laurie Dolan
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 7)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House COG (Jan 10)
  • Following Step: public hearing in WA House COG (Jan 14)
  • An evolution of HB 1260

NEW: HB 1859 - “Concerning quality standards for laboratories conducting cannabis analysis.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Requested By: WSDA, WSLCB
  • Sponsors (2): Shelley Kloba, Kelly Chambers
  • Companion: SB 5699
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 7)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA House COG (Jan 10)

SB 5517 - “Concerning employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (2): Karen Keiser, Rebecca Saldaña
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 8, 2021)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA Senate LCTA (Jan 10)
  • With some exceptions, this 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
  • Companion: HB 1668
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Dec 16, 2021)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA Senate LCTA (Jan 10)

NEW: SB 5671 - “Modifying the composition of the Washington state liquor and cannabis board.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (2): Derek Stanford, Ann Rivers
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 5)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA Senate LCTA (Jan 10)
  • WSLCB board members publicly discussed this bill on December 14th, which Chair Postman noted sought to change “the board of the LCB, and rather than just the three of us, would expand it” to a total of five board members and “four legislators as ex officio members.” WSLCB board members asserted the Washington CannaBusiness Association was behind the bill.

NEW: SB 5699 - “Concerning quality standards for laboratories conducting cannabis analysis.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Requested By: WSDA, WSLCB
  • Sponsors (1): Steve Conway
  • Companion: HB 1859
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 6)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA Senate LCTA (Jan 10)

NEW: SB 5706 - “Creating the community reinvestment account and community reinvestment program.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Requested By: WA Governor
  • Sponsors (1): Rebecca Saldaña
  • Companion: HB 1827
  • Previous Step: pre-filed (Jan 6)
  • Next Step: pro forma introduction and assignment to WA Senate LCTA (Jan 10)

Cannabis-Related Legislation - Reintroduced (7)

HB 1019 - “Allowing residential marijuana agriculture.”

HB 1105 - “Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (12): Shelley Kloba, et al
  • Previous Step: executive session in WA Senate LAW (Mar 18, 2021)
  • Last Step: returned to WA House RUL (Apr 25, 2021)

HB 1210 - “Replacing the term ‘marijuana’ with the term ‘cannabis’ throughout the Revised Code of Washington.”

HB 1414 - “Aligning marijuana licensing decisions by the liquor and cannabis board with local zoning ordinances.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (2): Keith Goehner, Kelly Chambers
  • Last Step: public hearing in WA House COG (Feb 2, 2021)

HB 1463 - “Addressing serious mental health consequences of high-potency cannabis products by regulating the sale of cannabis concentrates.”

SB 5004 - “Providing a tax exemption for medical marijuana patients.”

SB 5035 - “Concerning offender scoring of drug offenses.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (18): Manka Dhingra, et al
  • Previous Step: pro forma first reading and referral to WA House PS (Feb 27, 2021)
  • Last Step: returned to WA Senate RULE (Apr 25, 2021)

Cannabis-Related Legislation - Inactive (2)

HB 1260 - “Concerning the development of the marijuana market.”

  • [ Legislation ]
  • Sponsors (11): Emily Wicks, et al
  • Last Step: pro forma first reading and referral to WA House COG (Jan 18, 2021)
  • Subsumed by HB 1855

SB 5365 - “Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission.”