Washington State Department of Agriculture
(WSDA)

After passage of the excise tax study bill and movement of three others to chamber floor calendars, fiscal committees made last minute changes to their agendas for Saturday inclusive of four cannabis bills.

A fiscal committee heard cannabis legislation Thursday, but calendars were becoming cramped ahead of the next legislative gateway on Monday - and several cannabis bills may be left out.

The board heard an in-depth update on the social equity program then voted on two petitions, accepting one on heavy metals testing and denying one related to multi-license production facilities.

Attention was fixed on the first cutoff of the regular session of the Washington State Legislature as WSLCB board members planned to consider two petitions for rulemaking.

Four cannabis-related bills were up for action Monday ahead of the first policy committee deadline Wednesday as legislators geared up for the sprint to house of origin cutoff.

Testimony on a Senate bill on cannabis concentrates was similar to the House counterpart, but some new points were made after the sponsor raised the specter of Reefer Madness.

Legislation to reinforce vigilance over inversion and diversion was advanced, hemp in food was delayed, and legislators may not consider cannabis bills Wednesday until Senate calendaring.

After a particularly busy Monday for cannabis-related legislation in both the Senate and House, representatives were scheduled to move the inversion/diversion bill on Tuesday.

Some legislators seemed eager to at least appear to be eager to earmark unapportioned cannabis excise tax revenue at the beginning of the third week of the 2024 regular session.

After a brisk week of cannabis policy committee activity in the House including consideration of several controversial bills, legislators were scheduled to address other topics until Monday.