Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee
(WA House COG)

Last Tuesday, the Committee heard two bills which would substantially revise cannabis advertising law and recommended passage of the home grow bill.

Revised cannabis penalties and QA rules were poised to be advanced at Wednesday’s board meeting and the WSLCB Director expanded on his testimony to the Legislature.

WSLCB Director Rick Garza spoke about restructuring agency enforcement and the Committee heard HB 2296 and HB 2300 regarding cannabidiol (CBD) products.

11 cannabis-related bills were scheduled for consideration in 5 committee meetings while the WSLCB planned action on Cannabis Penalties and Quality Control Testing rules.

Public hearings on cannabis-related bills HB 2263 and HB 2361 filled the hearing room to capacity, and generated significantly more resistance than promotion.

It’s an unusually busy week with four legislative committee work sessions, more emergency rulemaking by the State Board of Health, and a WSLCB work group on top of regular meetings.

Agency leadership heard a substantial update on the legislative landscape for the 2020 session, and a licensee operating a cannabis delivery service garnered agency attention.

The Director briefed on the agency’s request legislation and the vaping-related health scare, which includes a new lawsuit in Pierce County filed against six cannabis product manufacturers.

11 cannabis-related bills are on their way to the Governor’s desk before the end of the regular session on Sunday.

Eleven cannabis-related bills have made it through both chambers of the legislature.