The Cannabis Alliance

Four public hearings on Tuesday evidenced the complexity of cannabis policymaking, Republicans were eyeing excise tax revenue, and legislation may be advanced on WSLCB data dashboard development.

Senators heard an hour of largely supportive testimony on producer direct sales on Monday and representatives planned to host public hearings on three cannabis-related bills on Tuesday.

A supermajority of the 23 people who testified supported legislation to allow direct sale of cannabis flower by producers, although questions were raised about market impacts.

While taking no position, agency remarks on a bill to move producer/processor regulation to WSDA raised questions of cost and timing, though all but one member of the public testified in favor.

As activity wrapped for the holidays, WSLCB board members planned to complete social equity work but all other rulemaking activity would be trimmed or further delayed into 2025.

Legislators planned to host work sessions in advance of the 2025 session which would occasion the final convening of the House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee.

A seemingly straightforward policymaking week was freighted with new urgency following the announcement that WSLCB Board Chair David Postman had been appointed to a new role.

WSLCB leaders offered reasons why the State Auditor’s 2018 traceability and project management recommendations hadn’t been implemented before facing critical public testimony.

Newly proposed social equity rules changed the application windows, scoring rubric, and title certificate holder privileges, but citizens raised concerns over WSLCB bias and transparency.

A long running rulemaking project got fresh feedback on a draft from those in the medical cannabis sector, but staff were no closer to being able to forecast completion of their work.