Washington State House of Representatives
(WA House)

Two more cannabis bills were pulled out of Senate Rules, interstate was passed by senators, the schedule for next week has some surprises, and floor activity continues.

Two amendments added “sideboards” and data analysis to legislation to modify and expand social equity licensing; Senators gave favorable remarks before passing the bill.

Three cannabis bills were passed in their house of origin on Tuesday, while on Wednesday senators could pull up to six cannabis bills out of Rules and potentially take action on interstate.

Cannabis-related bills were not taken up by legislators on Monday, but the social equity bill was moved out of rules, joining three other bills ready for second and third readings.

After the house of origin fiscal committee cutoff, 18 cannabis bills remained active—one less than expected—as legislators prepared for floor debate over the next week and a half.

Three cannabis bills were moved on Thursday and home grow was poised for advance on Friday before the house of origin fiscal committee cutoff would leave 19 cannabis bills in play.

The first substantial cannabis legislation was passed by the Senate, home grow was heard in its fiscal committee, and four cannabis bills were positioned for executive sessions on Thursday.

Inclusion of civil infractions in a bill to allow home growing of cannabis carried costs for state and local governments, and a police association lobbyist explained her group’s new position of ‘other.’

The medical cannabis patient excise tax exemption bill made it through the fiscal committee gateway whereas home grow legislation was getting a late start, but was positioned to proceed.

After fiscal committee work and announcement of schedules for the remainder of the week before cutoff, only two of 22 active cannabis bills appeared at risk of being left behind.