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 - Board Caucus
(July 19, 2022) - Social Equity Programs
An expert briefing on social equity programs was a “depressing" preview of challenges any effort to distinguish applicants by race-based criteria would likely face before a “hostile” federal judiciary.
WA SECTF - Work Group - Non-Violent Offense Policy and Home Grow - Public Meeting
(July 11, 2022) - Summary
- USA - Washington
- Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis Non-Violent Offense Policy and Home Grow Work Group
Following introductions, members contemplated how to improve criminal history checks for social equity applicants and prepared to advise regulators to disregard drug offenses broadly.
The Week Ahead
(July 18, 2022)
WSLCB board members would discuss prospective challenges to cannabis social equity programs with a subject matter expert and traffic safety commissioners planned to convene.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(July 12, 2022) - Summary
A new timeline for social equity rules was hypothesized by staff who looked ahead to a plant canopy rule project while responding to an “unprecedented” influx of rulemaking petitions.
WSLCB - Deliberative Dialogue - Cannabis Impairment
(June 21, 2022) - Summary
Panelists with experience in drug prevention and behavioral science couldn’t reach consensus on the question of what makes cannabinoids impairing during a final dialogue on the topic.
The Week Ahead
(July 11, 2022)
A busy summer week would feature deliberations of a social equity work group, a WSDA hemp program webinar, WSLCB leadership updates, and the WA Impaired Driving Advisory Council (WIDAC).
WSLCB - Board Meeting
(July 6, 2022) - Social Equity
Members approved a rule change normalizing use of the word ‘cannabis’ and heard criticism of the hold on the social equity rulemaking project leading to a lengthy explanation for the pause.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(July 5, 2022) - Summary
A “pause” on canopy enforcement was reviewed as well as rulemaking projects and upcoming rulemaking petitions before closing with a call for optimism about federal banking reform.
WA SECTF - Public Meeting
(June 28, 2022) - Summary
The task force elected a new co-chair, learned the status of a technical assistance and mentorship program, and heard allegations about “anti-union” activity of a retailer.
The Week Ahead
(July 4, 2022)
As the state recognized the 4th of July holiday during turbulent times, regulators may take steps to renew progress towards the minimum social equity program imagined for the cannabis sector.