The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) is the primary adult use cannabis regulatory authority in the State of Washington. The executive agency, which also regulates alcohol, tobacco, and vapor products in Washington state, is overseen by a three member board appointed by the Governor to six-year terms. The Board holds regular public meetings and work sessions with stakeholders, makes policy and budget decisions, and adjudicates contested license applications and enforcement actions on licensees. Board members are also responsible for hiring the agency's Director, who manages day-to-day operations.
Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
(WSLCB)
Public
Observations
WSLCB - Work Group - Cannabinoid Science - Public Meeting
(August 3, 2023) - Summary
Updates on two subgroups included a rehashing of why some technologies and testing regimes had been favored by a prior task force as staff looked ahead to finalizing recommendations.
The Week Ahead
(October 2, 2023)
The WSLCB Cannabinoid Science Work Group planned to publicly review their draft recommendations on quantifying “any detectable amount of THC.”
WSLCB - Board Meeting
(September 27, 2023) - Summary
An update on retail social equity licensing preceded public comments that ranged from praise of the process to accusations of corruption and conflicts of interest.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(September 26, 2023) - Summary
Board members heard a few rulemaking updates before reflecting on the development of the Research Unit and the impending departure of a rulemaking and research leader at WSLCB.
DOE - Webinar - Accreditation of Cannabis Laboratories - Public Workshop
(August 10, 2023) - Summary
A second workshop to get responses to draft lab accreditation rules dealt with questions about the costs and process behind DOE staff taking over lab authority from WSLCB.
The Week Ahead
(September 25, 2023)
Senate cannabis policy committee members planned to convene an interim work session on biometric age verification while the WSLCB board hosted regularly scheduled meetings.
JLARC - Committee Meeting
(September 20, 2023) - Cannabis Market Study
As JLARC staff prepared a mandated study of the state cannabis market, lawmakers sought to understand what was being studied - and suggest additional topics for inclusion.
DOH - Webinar - Medical Cannabis - Workshop
(September 15, 2023) - Summary
A mostly new team at the DOH Medical Cannabis Program solicited feedback on potential revisions to rules on compliant products, testing, labeling, and logos.
WSLCB - Executive Management Team
(September 13, 2023) - Summary
A legislative briefing outlined expected topics in 2024; a policy and rules update touched on work groups, rulemaking, and staffing; the recently-hired director kept his “internal” focus.
The Week Ahead
(September 18, 2023)
Legislators would hear about a study into “whether current levels of cannabis production align with market demand and capacity” before a WSLCB work group discussed cannabis education.