Washington State Senate Rules Committee
(WA Senate RULE)

Senators reduced by half the period of time registered patients would be exempted from a cannabis excise tax under HB 1453, but a large majority again supported the change.

The “high THC” legislation was expanded in scope before passage in the Senate and the cannabis waste bill was passed in the House ahead of the deadline on Friday which three cannabis bills still had to make.

The WSDA testing lab accreditation bill was passed and two more cannabis bills were calendared for floor activity as the House of Origin Cutoff loomed on Friday.

Interest in advancing inactive legislation via budget proviso had been activated, the “high THC” bill was positioned for floor activity in the Senate, and floor sessions would continue in the push to sine die.

Legislative and budget issues were top-of-mind for the board, but they also discussed an impending rulemaking project related to minors on the premises of producers and processors.

The THC tax study didn’t make it through the Opposite House Fiscal Committee Cutoff gateway, narrowing the list of active cannabis-related bills down to seven as legislators returned to floor sessions.

Senators decided the “high THC” bill was similar enough to a companion to skip a public hearing; all testimony on the bill to exempt patients from cannabis excise taxes was supportive.

All three cannabis bills at risk were scheduled for executive sessions before the fiscal committee cutoff on Monday, although two carried potential amendments which could alter their outcomes.

The first cannabis legislation of the session was passed; two bills in fiscal committees were heard and one was advanced regardless of not being heard; and the “potency tax” study was up for a financial review.

Testimony on cannabis commission legislation showed an industry divided over benefits and costs, plus the committee recommended bills on cannabis waste and THC-based taxation.