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 - Webinar - Agency Request Legislation Proposals
(August 11, 2023)
WSLCB leaders introduced two concepts for 2024 request legislation, one for medical patients to contract with licensees; another to revise limits around cannabis retail advertising.
The Week Ahead
(August 14, 2023)
Legislators and agency staff were preparing for the shorter 2024 legislative session where organized retail crime and patient concerns would figure amidst cannabis related policymaking.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(August 8, 2023) - Summary
The intention of staff to replace CCRS with a traceability system was questioned by board members, who next learned about the new staff and portfolio for the in-house research office.
DOE - Webinar - Accreditation of Cannabis Laboratories - Public Workshop
(August 2, 2023) - Summary
With DOE staff moving forward on cannabis lab accreditation rulemaking, they explained the expected timeline for draft rules and heard feedback about the costly implications for labs.
The Week Ahead
(August 7, 2023)
Federal substance abuse regulators planned to promote concerns about CBD, Ecology staff prepared to accredit private labs, and the WSLCB revealed 2024 request legislation proposals.
US House Oversight - Health Care and Financial Services - Subcommittee Hearing
(July 27, 2023) - Summary
- USA
- United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Health Care and Financial Services Subcommittee
A congressional committee heard how lack of federal rulemaking on CBD and hemp products contributed to endangering consumers through sale of unsafe hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
The Week Ahead
(July 31, 2023)
Lab participants would get a glimpse of rulemaking procedure at the Department of Ecology and the Cannabinoid Science Work Group planned to convene under the WSLCB Research Unit.
The Week Ahead
(July 24, 2023)
In Oregon and Washington, land grant university and federal agricultural scientists invited the public to tour experimental fiber and grain hemp fields to learn about contemporary research.
WSLCB - Board Meeting
(July 19, 2023) - Summary
A longtime employee was recognized, staff were working with the equity scoring vendor on acceptable documentation, and stakeholders wanted the agency to learn from past traceability efforts.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(July 18, 2023) - Rulemaking Updates
A new manager took over the Policy and Rules work at WSLCB and provided updates on a legislatively mandated cannabis project and a licensee survey for a rulemaking petition.