Washington State Legislature
(WA Legislature)

Six of seven clearly active cannabis bills were on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature into law, veto, or partial veto while representatives tried to offer tax relief to “eligible farmers.”

All seven clearly active cannabis bills had been passed by the Legislature and the conference committee on the operating budget planned to release their revisions on Saturday at noon.

Legislators appeared to have resolved a dispute over language added to the final clearly active cannabis bill by members of the House, and the WSLCB lobbyist hinted at the budget timeline.

Six cannabis bills had been passed by the Legislature including the far reaching THC legislation, leaving only one clearly active cannabis bill in dispute in the House.

Legislators greeted the final week of the 2023 regular session as WSLCB staff cleaned up a policy mess nearly made near the sleeping giant of environmental pesticide contamination.

Social equity legislation and a technical bill with cannabis provisions were passed by the Legislature Thursday and senators called for a conference committee on the operating budget.

Agency leadership reported on their response to legacy environmental pesticides, CANNRA engagement, rule and research plans, as well as the status of hiring a new director.

And then there were seven; three cannabis bills were passed hours prior to the final cutoff gateway as legislators turned to concurrence votes, disputes, and conference committee work.

None of four well-positioned cannabis bills were considered on Tuesday and remained in competition for limited opportunities for movement through the last cutoff gateway on Wednesday.

Most active cannabis legislation was through the final cutoff or on its way after four more cannabis bills were pulled out of rules and the social equity bill was passed by the House.