Larger cultural movements surfaced in the microcosm of cannabis policymaking as senators heard about retail theft and safety experts considered their goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2030.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday October 17th
WA Senate LCTA - Committee Meeting
On Monday at 2pm PT, the Washington State Senate Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs Committee (WA Senate LCTA) planned to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- First announced on September 14th, rescheduled on September 26th, and revised on October 5th, at publication time there was no agenda available for the interim work session.
- The work session subject of “Ensuring safe commerce in Washington, including issues related to…Retail Theft” had been specified in the announcements. Whether the broad subject of retail theft would be inclusive of challenges in the cannabis sector remained to be seen.
- During the 2022 state legislative session, SB 5927 (“Concerning the safety and security of retail cannabis outlets”) was introduced in response to a wave of robberies at cannabis retail stores. The bill was advanced through the Senate but was not moved by the Washington State House Public Safety Committee (WA House PS) as the end of the session approached. Senator Mike Padden moved a broader bill out of the senate, SB 5781 (“Concerning organized retail theft”), which was also halted at WA House PS. A $250K proviso to fund a “prevention of robberies in cannabis businesses task force” was added and removed during deliberations on the supplemental operating budget.
- In May, the King County Council adopted legislation directing the King County Executive to establish a “Cannabis Business Security Task Force” but did not appropriate funding to the King County Sheriff’s Office to implement the bill. At publication time, their work remained on hold pending the outcomes from the county’s biennial budget process.
- In late June, the Washington State Office of the Attorney General (WA OAG) announced the formation of an “Organized Retail Crime Theft Task Force” to “improve coordination and collaboration among law enforcement agencies to address these multi-jurisdictional crimes that endanger employees and cause significant economic harm to our state.” The announcement specifically mentioned robberies within the cannabis sector:
- “Washington’s legal cannabis retailers provide another example. The state Liquor and Cannabis Board has reported more than marijuana retail store robberies through the first three months of this year.
- These incidents can be dangerous and traumatic for employees. For example, in March, a suspect took an employee hostage before being fatally shot by the store’s security guard.
- At a robbery in Bellevue, police pursued three suspects into a south Seattle neighborhood. Two suspects surrendered, but the third engaged in a standoff with police before opening fire and ultimately being killed by officers.”
- It’s our understanding that the WA OAG task force first convened on July 7th. At publication time, Cannabis Observer had an outstanding public records request associated with the event but no visibility into those deliberations.
- It’s our presumption that the WA OAG will be asked to present during the WA Senate LCTA work session on retail theft.
Tuesday October 18th
WSLCB - Board Caucus
The weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was cancelled.
- [ Event Details ]
Wednesday October 19th
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 ]
- The task force last convened on October 5th. It’s Cannabis Observer’s understanding that the Concentration and Safety Work Group last convened on October 11th whereas the Definitions Work Group meeting for October 11th was cancelled and the group may have been disbanded.
- At the October 5th meeting, the task force continued to make progress towards recommendations for inclusion of hemp cannabinoids in food, beverages, and dietary supplements. Formal recommendations from the group remained due to staff at the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) by October 31st. At publication time, the task force had already agreed to meet again on October 26th.
Thursday October 20th
WTSC - Commission Meeting
On Thursday at 10am PT, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) was scheduled to convene.
- [ Event Details ]
- The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) is Washington state’s designated highway safety office as codified in RCW 43.59. The WTSC Director is the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative, which is a designated position each state is required to have in order to qualify for federal traffic safety funding. At publication time, the Commission was composed of ten Commissioners chaired by Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and supported by 29 employees. The WTSC meets quarterly and last convened on July 21st.
- The agenda for the October 20th meeting did not include any cannabis-specific agenda items, but Research Associate Max Roberts was scheduled to present on “Improving and Understanding Polydrug Information,” a reference to the increasing prevalence of traffic accidents where drivers test positively for multiple substances at levels deemed impairing.
- The Washington Impaired Driving Advisory Council (WIDAC) convened on October 13th to share information, and the mood was somber. WSLCB Director of Policy and External Affairs Justin Nordhorn provided a presentation on the agency’s three request bills awaiting the Governor’s approval, somewhat framed for the WIDAC audience. But concerns were more generally elevated about rates of traffic fatalities not seen for decades amidst judicial challenges to the evidentiary process. Cannabis use may be perceived by some on the council as more fuel on the fire of traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities caused by impaired drivers in part because the commissioners aim for zero fatalities on Washington roads by 2030. But some also recognize that incidents of road rage, aggressive driving, and perhaps even substance use are reflections of wider cultural movements over which they have little to no control.
Friday October 21st
At publication time, no cannabis-related policymaking events were scheduled.