Washington state policymakers aiming to rebuild the bulwarks of the highly regulated cannabis market prepared to take new steps to respond to chemically converted hemp cannabinoids.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday May 9th
UW CCR - Retreat
On Monday at 12pm PT, the second University of Washington Center for Cannabis Research (UW CCR) Retreat was scheduled to commence.
- [ Event Details ]
- Established in 2017, the center brought together interested UW researchers and hosted a first retreat in 2019 with counterparts from Washington State University (WSU). The group had since partnered with research institutions in California and Colorado and the university’s Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute (UW ADAI). In 2022, the center began hosting public webinars with leading cannabis researchers.
- The second retreat on Monday intended to “include diverse speakers in all fields of research, including basic and clinical sciences, as well as a poster session/reception at the end of the day.” In addition to a guest lecture from the Director of the Center for the Study of Cannabis at the University of California at Irvine, UW and WSU researchers planned to present six lectures roughly grouped around the subjects of “THC & New Technologies,” “THC & Behavior,” and “THC & Impairment.”
- The event showcasing contemporary public cannabis research would be hosted at the Intellectual House on the UW campus - but would be open to “Members & guests only.”
Tuesday May 10th
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 ]
WA Senate LCTA - Committee Meeting
On Tuesday at 2pm PT, the Washington State Senate Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs Committee (WA Senate LCTA) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- The primary cannabis policy committee in the WA Senate planned to host an unusual interim work session on “Regulating hemp-derived cannabinoids” to hear from a Portland State University researcher as well as Oregon and Washington state regulators.
- Portland State University Professor of Organic Chemistry Robert Strongin was invited to speak, whose curriculum vitae and research group website indicate a focus on “the chemistry of electronic cigarettes” and “Toxicologically Relevant Molecules in Cannabis Concentrates and Vaporizer Aerosols.”
- Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) Agency Director Steven Marks and Hemp and Processing Specialist Steven Crowley were invited to speak. In 2021, Oregon legislators passed HB 3000 to address several structural concerns including creation of “standards to prevent minors from purchasing intoxicating products derived from hemp.” Regulators began implementing corresponding rules after the bill was signed into law in mid-July 2021.
- Marks had been a leadership figure in the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) in the company of WSLCB Director Rick Garza from its inception.
- As well, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Legislative Liaison Kelly McLain and WSLCB Director of Policy and External Affairs Justin Nordhorn were invited to speak.
Wednesday May 11th
WSLCB - Board Meeting
On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
- Two cannabis-related public hearings were scheduled for Wednesday:
- Pesticide Action Levels (mentioned April 12th)
- Social Equity (mentioned March 2nd)
- On April 26th, WSLCB Policy and Rules Manager Kathy Hoffman indicated a new rulemaking project “coming up on May 11th” would explore “additional definitions that we might need around THC compounds.” Hoffman established that “earlier this year we promulgated rules around THC compound evaluation” to indicate some of the definitions may need to be reviewed to “expand or repeal” - possibly in light of the demise of multiple bills on the matter. The project would be led by Robert DeSpain, a limited duration staffer previously focused on alcohol rulemaking whom Hoffman indicated was moving to handling cannabis issues full time.
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 last convened the EMT on April 13th.
Thursday May 12th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.
Friday May 13th
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.