Washington State Legislature
(WA Legislature)

Director of Legislative Relations Chris Thompson went over the status of two potential agency request bills (lab standards, cannabinoid regulation) and an upcoming briefing to lawmakers.

The task force adopted work group recommendations to significantly increase spending on grants, establish loans for equity applicants, and open grants to qualified existing licensees.

Three recommendations for the 2022 legislative session were put forward by the licensing work group and adopted by the task force following discussion and amendment.

The governor approved a “consumer protection measure” so that imported CBD would be tested prior to use in legal cannabis items.

Task force members heard progress reports from work group leaders and WSLCB licensing staff while the public voiced complaints about the pace of task force work and the absence of the former co-chair.

Amidst long solstice days after a week of high temperatures, important decisions about the future of the Washington state cannabis industry were under way - and more heat was expected.

Governor Inslee signed a legislative response to a court case which invalidated the state drug possession statute, and lawmakers allotted more than $172 million to address the ruling.

Only two cannabis-specific bills were passed before the end of the 2021 Washington state legislative session; we speculate about factors in play during a complex and busy interim.

The hemp processor bill was signed into law, likely followed by the social equity bill - but the future of drug policy in Washington state was on a strange trip aboard SB 5476.

The hemp processor bill was headed to the Governor’s desk, likely followed by some version of the social equity bill, while rulemaking and interim work at WSLCB was ramping up.