Washington State Department of Agriculture
(WSDA)

Members introduced themselves before debating the background and scope of their mandated report, though many were predisposed to laying the groundwork for legislation in 2023.

Seattle Councilmembers would consider a trio of bills on worker and social equity in the cannabis sector and the Hemp in Food Task Force planned to convene for the third time.

A legislative affairs update featured the first public remarks on draft request legislation for 2023 covering “THC regulation,” social equity, and subpoena authority for cannabis investigations.

Work group members supported an expanded role for WSDA in regulating cannabis production, but only after study and planning around costs and implications for equity in the market.

The work group discussed the costs and social equity implications of either a new agriculture program for cannabis production, or a “lift and shift” of the existing WSLCB program to WSDA.

The social equity production work group would meet, likely for the last time, before WSLCB staff convened a listen and learn forum on draft rules for the cannabinoid regulation rulemaking project.

The head of the WSDA hemp program presented the basics of hemp harvest reporting, inspections, and remediation before introducing an interim Program Manager.

Panelists with experience in drug prevention and behavioral science couldn’t reach consensus on the question of what makes cannabinoids impairing during a final dialogue on the topic.

A busy summer week would feature deliberations of a social equity work group, a WSDA hemp program webinar, WSLCB leadership updates, and the WA Impaired Driving Advisory Council (WIDAC).

WSLCB leaders heard about national and regional conferences staff had participated in along with updates on media requests, traceability, and a “strategic plan” for social equity communications.