When Washington became a state in 1889, the state constitution codified the Washington State Office of the Attorney General (WA OAG) as part of the executive branch. The Attorney General's Office is now the state’s largest law firm, encompassing 28 divisions with over 600 attorneys and 650 professional staff charged with representing over 230 state agencies, boards, and commissions.
Washington State Office of the Attorney General
(WA OAG)
Public
Observations
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(July 6, 2021) - Summary
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.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(June 29, 2021) - Summary
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.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(June 22, 2021) - Synthesized D9 Update
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.
WSLCB - Special Board Caucus
(June 16, 2021) - Summary
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.
WA Senate - Session - Afternoon
(April 15, 2021) - SB 5476 - Second and Third Reading
Senators debated a legislative response to the State v. Blake decision and adopted a striking amendment making possession of controlled substances a misdemeanor, creeping further back towards criminalization of public health concerns.
WA SECTF - Work Group - Disproportionately Impacted Communities - Public Meeting
(March 24, 2021) - WA OAG Presentation
- USA - Washington
- Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis Disproportionately Impacted Communities Work Group
The attorney general’s office described the “strict scrutiny” standard federal courts applied to laws utilizing race-based criteria and how that related to the work group’s development of social equity program applicant criteria.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(March 16, 2021) - Delta-8-THC
Director Rick Garza discussed agency efforts to understand delta-8-THC and develop policy following increased momentum towards restriction by other states amid federal uncertainty.
WA SECTF - Work Group - Disproportionately Impacted Communities - Public Meeting
(February 25, 2021) - Scope and Responsibilities
- USA - Washington
- Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis Disproportionately Impacted Communities Work Group
During the first work group meeting, members introduced themselves; heard staff briefings on the group’s scope, responsibilities, and timeline; and solicited public comments.
WA Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis - Public Meeting
(January 25, 2021) - WSLCB Policy Briefing
An extensive briefing by WSLCB staff on past cannabis business licensing windows provoked a lively Q&A on the prospective social equity program application process.
The Week Ahead
(January 25, 2021)
WSLCB licensing staff would testify before the social equity task force the same week as an out-of-state ownership lawsuit proceeded while 11 cannabis-related bills made their way through the legislature.