Washington State Office of the Attorney General
(WA OAG)

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.

Details of a board member’s discussion with state counsel on synthesized delta-9-THC led to conversation about the policy statements and agency regulatory powers beyond rulemaking.

Members asked about the potential to include consideration of synthesized delta-9-THC in open rulemaking and had a lengthy discussion on the tone of official statements on the matter.

A board member called a special caucus to air confusion about investigating a licensed processor turning CBD into delta-9-THC, kicking off a debate about the law and potential board action.