Washington State Office of the Attorney General
(WA OAG)

Cannabis social equity task force staff described adopted recommendations and those still in progress before responding to questions about data and goals of the group.

Members adopted an algorithm for determining disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs) but postponed consideration of two social equity application process recommendations.

The task force adopted work group recommendations to significantly increase spending on grants, establish loans for equity applicants, and open grants to qualified existing licensees.

Director of Policy and External Affairs Justin Nordhorn discussed the background, intent, and changes requested in draft legislation on “psychotropic” and “impairing” cannabis compounds.

Social equity licensing work group members planned to devote time to understanding the prevalence of ban and moratorium jurisdictions before discussing “Possible Solutions.”

Task force members heard progress reports from work group leaders and WSLCB licensing staff while the public voiced complaints about the pace of task force work and the absence of the former co-chair.

Following arguments from attorneys, a superior court judge ruled an Idaho businessman did not have standing to challenge the statute and rules creating residency requirements for cannabis licensees.

Agency staff presented a new interpretive statement which offered no ‘safe harbor’ to licensees converting CBD into delta-9-THC, asserting the practice was not permitted under law.

A second dialogue on “Cannabis Plant Chemistry” would draw engaged participants and a Thurston County Superior Court judge would address out-of-state ownership of Washington cannabis businesses.

Staff described outreach to a U.S. Senator, participation in the spring meeting of a prominent cannabis organization, and planned revisions to the scope of rulemaking on synthesized cannabinoids.