Washington State Senate
(WA Senate)

Operating budget proposals began to take shape as policy committees considered legislation ahead of the Opposite House Policy Committee Cutoff on Wednesday February 21st.

Four cannabis-related bills were heard or advanced on Thursday whereas four others were more clearly withdrawn from consideration as committee schedules for the following week continued to fill out.

After hearing two cannabis bills on Wednesday, lawmakers had increasingly busy calendars on Thursday and through the following mid-week to meet the next policy committee deadline.

Most lawmakers agreed to pass legislation to address risks associated with use of “high THC” products, with some disagreement around how urgent and restrictive solutions should be.

Commodity commission legislation was passed by Senators before the House of Origin Cutoff which left 12 cannabis-related bills active as policy committees reformed for the shorter second half of session.

A bill from 2023 pertaining to uses of cannabis waste without THC was brought to the Senate floor and passed overwhelmingly following brief remarks from the sponsor.

Representatives passed the WSDA lab accreditation bill and senators positioned the cannabis commission legislation for action among six bills still at risk before the House of Origin Cutoff at 5pm.

As senators looked at approaches to reduce use of “high THC” cannabis—especially by young adults—they mandated WSLCB data collection and recommendations on THC-based taxation.

Seven cannabis-related bills were at risk ahead of the House of Origin Cutoff on Tuesday after which legislators would return their attention to policy committee hearings and executive sessions.

Over the weekend, legislators advanced the low dose THC legislation and prepared for two days of floor activity during which three cannabis-related bills could potentially be advanced before the next cutoff.