Washington State Department of Health
(DOH)

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

Most lawmakers agreed to pass legislation to address risks associated with use of “high THC” products, with some disagreement around how urgent and restrictive solutions should be.

At the close of a quiet day for cannabis-related legislation on Thursday, House leadership pulled three bills out of their rules committee onto the floor calendar for potential action on Friday.

A bill requiring development of training, mandatory signage, and medical interventions related to “high THC” cannabis was considered, and subsequently recommended, by a fiscal committee.

Concern about removal of WSLCB authority to destroy failed cannabis samples led members to restore a similar mandate before recommending a bill to assign lab accreditation to WSDA.

Lawmakers heard similar testimony during the fiscal considerations of a high THC regulation bill as was given in the policy hearing and later decided not to move the measure.

The board heard an in-depth update on the social equity program then voted on two petitions, accepting one on heavy metals testing and denying one related to multi-license production facilities.

Committee members moved to approve three cannabis bills for a data dashboard, home growing, and regulation of high THC products.

The winnowing of bills through the first cutoff on Wednesday was underway, and some legislation had been greatly revised to continue forward momentum.

Testimony on a Senate bill on cannabis concentrates was similar to the House counterpart, but some new points were made after the sponsor raised the specter of Reefer Madness.