Two cannabis bills, one preparing for interstate commerce and another modifying fundamental definitions of cannabis and hemp in Washington state, were advanced in the House.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Friday April 7th, the 89th day of the 2023 Regular Session.
My top 3 takeaways:
- On Thursday April 6th, leadership in the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) pulled two cannabis bills to the floor calendar without convening the Washington State House Rules Committee (WA House RUL).
- Throughout the session, democratic leadership had preferred issuing chamber package pulls with the consent of the body as opposed to convening the WA House RUL.
- Leadership pulled two cannabis bills to the House floor calendar, positioning them for second and third readings:
- SB 5069 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
- Later that afternoon, Representative Sharon Wylie filed a technical amendment aiming to correct “a scrivener's error so that statutes are correctly identified.”
- SB 5367 - “Concerning the regulation of products containing THC.”
- That morning, Representative Kristine Reeves published a proposed floor amendment which was said to add “an exception to the proposed prohibition on a person manufacturing, selling, or distributing cannabis or cannabis products without a valid license issued by the Liquor and Cannabis Board or the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, to make an exception for activities that are permitted under a cannabis agreement between Washington and a tribe.”
- SB 5069 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
- Four bills remained in WA House RUL awaiting a pull at publication time:
- Also on Thursday, the Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE) announced their intention to meet on Friday April 7th after the Senate morning session to accept a regular package pull and exercise one member pull from the committee White Sheet to the floor calendar.
- At publication time, two cannabis bills were eligible for pulls:
- As well, the gubernatorial appointment confirmation of Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Member Jim Vollendroff remained in committee awaiting inclusion in a confirmation package:
- SGA 9317 - “James R. Vollendroff, Member, Liquor and Cannabis Board”
- On Friday April 7th, legislators planned a day of floor sessions to continue moving legislation ahead of the opposite house cutoff gateway on Wednesday April 12th.
- The Washington State Senate planned to convene at 9am on Friday and Saturday. In addition to WSLCB Board Member Ollie Garrett’s appointment confirmation, at publication time one cannabis bill was available to senators for concurrence with House changes:
- SB 5123 - “Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis.”
- The Washington State House of Representatives planned to convene at 9am on Friday and Saturday. At publication time, two cannabis bills were available on the House floor calendar:
- Wednesday April 12th at 5pm would occasion the opposite house cutoff, the final gateway before the end of the regular session, described as the “Last day to consider (pass) opposite house bills (5 p.m.) (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).”
- The Washington State Senate planned to convene at 9am on Friday and Saturday. In addition to WSLCB Board Member Ollie Garrett’s appointment confirmation, at publication time one cannabis bill was available to senators for concurrence with House changes: