Washington State Senate
(WA Senate)

Three of four lingering cannabis bills were recommended through the upcoming cutoff gateway as initial revisions to biennium operating budgets consumed legislator attention.

14 cannabis-related bills remained active ahead of the opposite house policy committee cutoff on Wednesday including four which had executive sessions rescheduled for amendment work.

Interstate commerce was recommended out of committee, no action was taken on the commission bill, and the public received a first look at the Senate operating budget proposal.

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.

Time was running out for five remaining cannabis bills which had been heard but not moved by their policy committees - but all five had executive sessions scheduled ahead of the next cutoff.

Most committee members found they liked legislation limiting pre-employment cannabis screenings as written, deciding against approving two amendments to the bill before recommending passage.

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.

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.

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.

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.