The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) aims to develop programs and services to help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide information to help people make good health decisions, and ensure Washington state is prepared for emergencies.
Washington State Department of Health
(DOH)
Public
Observations
WA Hemp in Food Task Force - Meeting
(August 31, 2022) - Summary
After a critical briefing was postponed, task force members offered high-level updates from two work groups and reiterated a need to collect appropriate data to produce a timely report.
WA Hemp in Food Task Force - Meeting
(August 17, 2022) - Summary
Members learned about contemporary cannabinoid research from a UW official then defined and prioritized work group focus areas for reporting back to the full task force.
WACA - Spring Meeting - 2022 - WSDA Engagement
(June 15, 2022) - Summary
Attendees heard about the WSDA hemp program and projects their staff were involved with, then asked about hemp testing and the possibility of Ag regulating cannabis production.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(May 31, 2022) - Summary
The 2021 Healthy Youth Survey of Washington school students showed mostly positive signs around cannabis, but a three year gap disrupted comparison of trends with past results.
WA Governor - Bill Action
(March 31, 2022) - SB 5693
The Governor shared his thoughts on the supplemental budget before signing it; the measure created two hemp task forces, a community reinvestment fund, and other cannabis-centric changes.
WA Governor - Bill Action
(March 24, 2022) - SB 5796
The Governor signed a bill which changed non-binding cannabis revenue appropriations and mandated a study of those expenditures by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee.
WA Governor - Bill Action
(March 24, 2022) - HB 1859
The governor signed the only non-controversial cannabis bill of the 2022 session into law, setting regulators up to form an interagency coordination team responsible for lab standards.
DOH - Public Hearing - Medical Marijuana Consultant Certification
(February 22, 2022) - Summary
After DOH representatives provided a brief background, two patients, a medical consultant, and a consultant trainer offered feedback on proposed changes to consultant certification rules.
WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting
(March 7, 2022) - SB 5983 - Executive Session
Given two proposed substitutes on a bill to regulate cannabinoids, almost the entire committee voted for a more limited version to get some cannabinoid products off the shelves and study the issues.
WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting
(March 5, 2022) - SB 5983 - Public Hearing
A last-minute hearing on a repackaged bill to regulate synthesized cannabinoids revealed shared public health concerns but testimony otherwise remained just as sharply divided.