Washington State Legislature
(WA Legislature)

To ensure the safety of youth, senators unanimously agreed any amount of THC in a hemp product was too much as they amended and passed a bill to age gate products containing THC.

Two more cannabis bills were pulled out of Senate Rules, interstate was passed by senators, the schedule for next week has some surprises, and floor activity continues.

Two amendments added “sideboards” and data analysis to legislation to modify and expand social equity licensing; Senators gave favorable remarks before passing the bill.

Three cannabis bills were passed in their house of origin on Tuesday, while on Wednesday senators could pull up to six cannabis bills out of Rules and potentially take action on interstate.

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.

Cannabis-related bills were not taken up by legislators on Monday, but the social equity bill was moved out of rules, joining three other bills ready for second and third readings.

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.

The first substantial cannabis legislation was passed by the Senate, home grow was heard in its fiscal committee, and four cannabis bills were positioned for executive sessions on Thursday.

Inclusion of civil infractions in a bill to allow home growing of cannabis carried costs for state and local governments, and a police association lobbyist explained her group’s new position of ‘other.’