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

The social equity licensing work group would learn about “Social Consumption Lounges” and the Cannabis Alliance planned to host state officials to discuss crucial contemporary topics.

Staff discussed upcoming meetings with officials, a presentation to lawmakers on synthesized cannabinoids, progress on social equity, and a new proposal on federal cannabis legalization.

In a near unanimous vote, committee members recommended a proposed substitute version of legislation which would authorize imported CBD as a legal cannabis product additive.

In its initial public hearing, legislation to set requirements for CBD additives from outside the 502 system received mostly negative comments from those concerned it could hurt farmers and patients.

There was no opposition from committee members to recommending a bill which would establish a voluntary hemp processor registration, a hemp extract certification, and limited authority for WSLCB to test hemp.

Director Rick Garza discussed how his work for WSLCB and the organization CANNRA weren’t “separate hats” and identified states the agency would look to for model cannabinoid policies.

Two attorneys were invited to speak about Washington state cannabis policies compared to other jurisdictions in a work session about the future of the cannabis industry.

WSLCB Director Rick Garza requested time to update lawmakers ahead of a committee work session on the future of the cannabis industry to share regulator priorities and disclose new agency work groups.

A bill to create a voluntary hemp processor registration program and hemp extract certificate garnered mostly supportive testimony in the House from the public and state officials.

Several cannabis bills portend some controversy on their way through the next cutoff on Friday, where a mysterious work session on “the future of the cannabis industry” awaited.