Washington State Health Care Authority
(WA HCA)

In his final bill signing, Governor Jay Inslee offered hope Washington would continue to prosper under a supplemental budget with rates of cannabis spending largely the same as 2023.

The cannabis waste bill was lined up for Inslee’s signature, rules on THC legislation from 2023 were ready for review, and WSDA staff kept their eyes on the calendar for lab accreditation.

Regulators were ready to continue or initiate rulemaking processes in the week following the end of the legislative session while prevention researchers reviewed their findings.

The first cannabis bill of 2024 was signed into law before a dynamic conclusion to the session as the “high THC” legislation criss-crossed the rotunda for a last minute change which may have fiscal consequences.

All cannabis bills were funded in the operating budget; the patient excise tax exemption bill was passed; a bill action was scheduled by the Governor; and lawmakers would conclude the 2024 regular session.

Senators made changes to data gathering requirements in a bill regulating “high THC” products before almost unanimously passing the measure and returning it to the House for concurrence.

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.

One cannabis bill was gathering signatures, another was ready for final passage, three were in rules awaiting calendaring, and three more were scheduled for execs before the Monday cutoff.

After undertaking significant activity on cannabis-related bills on Monday, lawmakers lined up executive sessions on a few more bills before the final policy committee deadline on Wednesday.

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