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

Observations on the evolution of a bill which would enable Washington farmers to participate in the federal hemp program authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.

On Thursday, the Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG) amended and moved HB 1237, HB 1466, and HB 1974 out of committee with “do pass” recommendations.

Members moved (some) cannabis bills out of committee as the first major session cutoff calendar deadline landed today.

The committee heard advocates for a Washington Cannabis Commission and passed bills to establish a hemp program, create new compensation structures, and shift lab accreditation to Ecology.

The committee hosted two cannabis bill public hearings (HB 1963 and HB 2052) and passed two cannabis bills out of committee with “Do Pass” recommendations (HB 1236 and HB 1792).

The Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG) moved Substitute House Bill 1794 out of committee with a “do pass” recommendation, but did not take action on HB 1236 or HB 1466.

Several cannabis bills found love on Valentine’s Day as committees passed or amended them, while less fortunate legislation received no action.

The committee heard a strongly endorsed cannabis intellectual property bill and passed the WSLCB budtender permit bill out of committee.

Agency leadership shared a lengthy legislative update and tales from the North American Cannabis Summit.

Lawmakers considered allowing retailers to sell branded merchandise and CBD products with < 0.3% THC during HB 1238’s public hearing.