Washington State Department of Health
(DOH)

A solid majority of representatives in the Washington State House voted to extend arrest protections to authorized medical cannabis patients and caregivers who choose not to register with the State.

The Health Care and Wellness Committee voted to recommend legislation which would extend arrest protections to all medical cannabis patients, not just those registered with the State.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Public health researchers and prevention advocates discussed a report associating increased health risks with concentrated cannabis products and ways to enact policy change.