Washington State Senate Labor, Commerce, and Tribal Affairs Committee
(WA Senate LCTA)

After a ‘hemp’ amendment was withdrawn, legislation swapping the term ‘marijuana’ for the term ‘cannabis’ in State statute was passed by committee members - and still could become law.

Several amendments to legislation modifying the Washington cannabis social equity program and task force were considered by committee members before it was recommended in a divided vote.

Several cannabis bills portend some controversy on their way through the next cutoff on Friday, where a mysterious work session on “the future of the cannabis industry” awaited.

Thoughtful public testimony and an amendment tying in ‘hemp’ encouraged senators to take a closer look at a bill to change state law mentions of ‘marijuana’ to ‘cannabis’.

There’s a new Board Chair at WSLCB, policy committee public hearings on 5 bills plus a prevention work session in the Legislature, and a WSDA webinar on the hemp program.

Following passage by the House, legislation to modify and expand the State social equity in cannabis task force and program was heard by senators for the first time.

Seven cannabis-related bills were already through the house of origin cutoff on Tuesday which would mark the halfway point of the 2021 Washington State legislative session.

A diverse majority publicly testified against legislation to establish a Washington state cannabis commodity commission, although more individuals signed in support.

Six new relevant bills were introduced in the past week and several were already scheduled to be heard on local authority, social equity, and a cannabis commodity commission.

WSLCB licensing staff would testify before the social equity task force the same week as an out-of-state ownership lawsuit proceeded while 11 cannabis-related bills made their way through the legislature.