Washington State University Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach
(WSU CCPRO)

As the Opposite House Cutoff approached, the WSLCB board planned to discuss reviving advisory councils and WSDA contractors would ask for input on reviving the hemp sector.

Before the next cutoff on Wednesday, senators would consider the WSLCB lab authority bill just as agency Enforcement tried to stretch that authority to encompass non-mandatory samples.

As legislators considered moving legislation out of the house of origin including nine cannabis-related bills, WSLCB members would discuss “Efficiencies” in their public meetings.

Supporters welcomed expanded signage allowances and clarifications offered in a cannabis advertising bill, but opponents viewed changes as increasing youth perception of normalization.

Eight cannabis-related bills were scheduled for hearings and six potential executive sessions were planned in the week before the House of Origin Policy Committee Cutoff.

Officials and licensees alike moved to squeeze in policy-related meetings between the end of year holidays as pre-filing for the 2025-26 biennial state legislative session opened on Monday.

A seemingly straightforward policymaking week was freighted with new urgency following the announcement that WSLCB Board Chair David Postman had been appointed to a new role.

WSLCB staff planned to delay action on three rulemaking projects before being publicly called to account for a follow-up State performance audit on cannabis traceability and enforcement.

A selection of events reflecting the diversity and complexity of the Cannabis sativa plant were scheduled by the WSLCB, WSU, WTSC, DOH, and Cannabis Alliance during the week.

Representatives of WSLCB and the Department of Ecology briefed the committee about ongoing research and cleanup of legacy pesticide soil contamination in central Washington.