Washington State House Appropriations Committee
(WA House APP)

Three of four lingering cannabis bills were recommended through the upcoming cutoff gateway as initial revisions to biennium operating budgets consumed legislator attention.

14 cannabis-related bills remained active ahead of the opposite house policy committee cutoff on Wednesday including four which had executive sessions rescheduled for amendment work.

Time was running out for five remaining cannabis bills which had been heard but not moved by their policy committees - but all five had executive sessions scheduled ahead of the next cutoff.

Members modified the process for local authorities to object to license applications and made technical corrections before approving a bill to expand the social equity in cannabis program.

Promising continued work with hemp sector stakeholders, committee members were clear the priority for a THC regulation bill was to prevent youth from accessing products containing the compound.

During the last full week before the opposite house policy committee cutoff on Wednesday March 29th, legislators would consider all 14 cannabis-related bills that remained clearly active.

After renewing focus in policy committees, legislators announced plans to address the majority of active cannabis legislation the following week and begin work on the operating budget.

The board got a status update on legislation, discussed an impending social equity licensing window, and learned about a new format for staff guidance on rulemaking petitions.

After the house of origin fiscal committee cutoff, 18 cannabis bills remained active—one less than expected—as legislators prepared for floor debate over the next week and a half.

Three cannabis bills were moved on Thursday and home grow was poised for advance on Friday before the house of origin fiscal committee cutoff would leave 19 cannabis bills in play.