Washington State Department of Agriculture
(WSDA)

WSLCB staff would accept feedback on the upcoming social equity retail licensure window and the Cannabis Alliance planned to host leading legislators to discuss what happened in 2022.

The caucus meeting touched on existing rulemaking; a proposal to label cannabis vapor cartridges; the highs and lows of the legislative session; and a newly appointed board member.

Staff briefed on a bill with complex changes to recommended cannabis tax appropriations before testimony emphasized benefits for transparency, social equity, and local governments.

After more than three years, rulemaking on pesticide testing still elicited criticism from many producers and processors, though a few stakeholders suggested enacting and moving on.

A bill requiring accuracy in CBD labeling was welcomed by hemp stakeholders, but dissent centered on definitions cribbed from another bill and whether the legislation was necessary.

A joint request bill to establish an interagency cannabis lab standards team was wholeheartedly supported by representatives of the agencies which drafted the legislation.

New task force members were welcomed, followed by a review of recommendations already made and those still needed, then a vote to continue one work group and start up three others.

24 cannabis-related bills were active and 11 were scheduled for committee activity in the week ahead, including social equity, craft endorsements, and WSLCB request legislation.

Some licensees, WSLCB staff, and prevention advocates encouraged lawmakers to pass request legislation on cannabinoid regulation, while other licensees preferred a competing bill.

A majority of speakers favored legislation to create a cannabis commodity commission, but questions remained about costs, goals, and the inclusiveness with which the bill was drafted.