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)
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Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
Information Set
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Observations
WA House PS - Committee Meeting (February 12, 2021) - HB 1499 - Public Hearing
Legislation representing the first effort in Washington state for broad decriminalization of personal possession of controlled substances including enhanced treatment and recovery services brought out the support of hundreds - and opposition from just ten people.
WA House COG - Committee Meeting (February 12, 2021) - HB 1463 - Public Hearing
Sharply divided testimony and at times emotional appeals were presented during a public hearing on legislation to dilute cannabis concentrates and raise the legal purchase age to 25.
The Week Ahead (February 8, 2021)
Of 19 bills closely tracked, five were out of committee and seven were scheduled for action this week - including new bills to limit cannabis concentrates and a drug decriminalization bill.
WA House HCW - Committee Meeting (February 4, 2021) - HB 1105 - Public Hearing
A public hearing on a bill which would extend arrest protections to all medical cannabis patients received wholly positive testimony and addressed questions from committee members.
WA Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis - Public Meeting (January 25, 2021) - WSLCB Policy Briefing
An extensive briefing by WSLCB staff on past cannabis business licensing windows provoked a lively Q&A on the prospective social equity program application process.
WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting (January 18, 2021) - Summary
SB 5004, legislation providing an excise tax exemption for patients registered with the state, drew largely supportive testimony which contested the accuracy of the fiscal note.
WSLCB - Board Caucus (January 12, 2021) - Summary
In the Board’s first planning session since 2018, members looked back on past priorities and prepared to welcome a new board chair who would be appointed in “a few more weeks.”
NW PTTC - Webinar - The More the Merrier? (December 17, 2020) - Summary
Public health researchers and prevention advocates discussed a report associating increased health risks with concentrated cannabis products and ways to enact policy change.
WA HCA - Washington State Prevention Summit - A Couple of Things About Cannabis (November 4, 2020) - Summary
During the annual state prevention summit, public health and prevention practitioners heard “A Couple of Things About Cannabis” and got an early look at a report on cannabis potency.
WSLCB - Executive Management Team (December 9, 2020) - Public Health and Prevention
WSLCB’s leading substance use prevention staffer provided their first in-depth update in months, pushing back against temporary policy allowances and raising public health concerns.