An odd couple of cannabis bills were advanced to the Senate floor while seven remained in their respective rules committees ahead of house of origin cutoff on Wednesday evening.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Tuesday March 7th, the 58th day of the 2023 Regular Session.
My top 3 takeaways:
- On Monday March 6th after floor activity, the Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE) calendared two very different cannabis bills which had been consistently moved in tandem by senators.
- SB 5377 - "Concerning cannabis license ownership."
- SB 5546 - "Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission."
- Bundled together in a policy committee hearing and heard back to back in fiscal committee, these very different bills were once again moved together to the Senate floor on Monday evening.
- Both bills were ambitious, perennial efforts to shift Washington state cannabis market dynamics. SB 5377 would enable out-of-state ownership and suspend “inactive” producer licenses until an interstate commerce trigger condition was met. SB 5546 would enable producers to call for the creation of a cannabis commodity commission, pooling resources to share the expense of targeted research managed by a quasi-State entity composed of industry representatives.
- From our external perspective, it seems like the stakeholders supporting each bill have not traditionally been aligned. Efforts were made in the interim to bring some cannabis sector stakeholders together and there seems to have been less internecine strife than last session. But these two bills have elicited more competition than cooperation.
- Perhaps senators are moving these bills together in dialogue in the hopes of seeing all parties get some of what they want.
- On Tuesday March 7th, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) and the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) planned to reconvene to read, debate, amend, and vote on bills.
- WA House members planned to convene at 9am PT. At publication time, no cannabis bills had been advanced to the house floor calendar.
- WA Senate members planned to convene at 9am PT. At publication time, three cannabis bills had been advanced to the senate floor calendar:
- SB 5340 - "Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products."
- SB 5377 - "Concerning cannabis license ownership."
- SB 5546 - "Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission."
- Amendment S-2063.1 by Senator Sharon Shewmake, the prime sponsor, would redefine “active” producers and processors; enable electronic voting; and prioritize diverse representation.
- At publication time, seven cannabis bills remained in their respective rules committees awaiting a pull to their chamber floor calendar ahead of the house of origin cutoff on Wednesday at 5pm PT.
- HB 1159 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
- Divergent senate companion legislation, SB 5069, had already been passed by that body, introduced in the House, and referred to the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG).
- HB 1249 - “Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products.”
- Identical senate companion legislation, SB 5340, had been pulled to the Senate floor calendar for potential action.
- HB 1453 - “Providing a tax exemption for medical cannabis patients.”
- 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.”
- SB 5363 - “Concerning cannabis retailer advertising.”
- SB 5376 - “Allowing the sale of cannabis waste.”
- At publication time, 84 bills remained assigned to WA Senate RULE and 168 bills were assigned to the Washington State House Rules Committee (WA House RULE). 166 bills awaited action on the WA Senate floor calendar compared to 143 bills in the House.
- HB 1159 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”