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
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
(March 21, 2023) - SB 5546 - Public Hearing
Testimony on a cannabis commission showed disagreements over the body’s potential value; supporters emphasized the bill gave licensed producers the power to decide for themselves.
WA Legislature - Update
(March 22, 2023)
All 14 clearly active cannabis bills had been heard by opposite house policy committees, but six still awaited movement after two executive sessions were delayed to allow time for amendment.
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
(March 20, 2023) - SB 5080 - Executive Session
Members modified the process for local authorities to object to license applications and made technical corrections before approving a bill to expand the social equity in cannabis program.
WA Legislature - Update
(March 21, 2023)
After a busy start of the week, legislators planned to address nearly as many bills on Tuesday including the continuation of two incomplete public hearings left open on Monday.
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
(March 20, 2023) - SB 5367 - Executive Session
Promising continued work with hemp sector stakeholders, committee members were clear the priority for a THC regulation bill was to prevent youth from accessing products containing the compound.
The Week Ahead
(March 20, 2023)
During the last full week before the opposite house policy committee cutoff on Wednesday March 29th, legislators would consider all 14 cannabis-related bills that remained clearly active.
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
(March 14, 2023) - SB 5080 - Public Hearing
Legislators asked for additional information during testimony on a bill to expand the social equity program before an unscheduled WSLCB panel joined the hearing to field questions.
WA Legislature - Update
(March 16, 2023)
After renewing focus in policy committees, legislators announced plans to address the majority of active cannabis legislation the following week and begin work on the operating budget.
WA Legislature - Update
(March 15, 2023)
Legislators heard two cannabis bills on Tuesday on pre-employment testing for cannabis use and social equity, and would presumably not be moving two bills out of the Senate Rules x-file.
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
(March 13, 2023) - SB 5367 - Public Hearing
Committee members heard testimony in favor, opposed, and ‘other’ while seeking suggestions on THC levels for hemp products after the Senate decided any amount of THC was too much.