University of Washington Addictions, Drug, and Alcohol Institute
(UW ADAI)

The final day of the 2023 regular session would almost certainly include acceptance of the operating budget - but passage of the Blake response bill seemed more complicated.

Three of four lingering cannabis bills were recommended through the upcoming cutoff gateway as initial revisions to biennium operating budgets consumed legislator attention.

A bill creating cannabis tax tiering received supportive testimony and many neutral suggestions from industry representatives welcoming a new conversation on product taxation.

Six cannabis bills were up for initial hearings or executive action on Thursday morning and the committee schedule for the following week was published listing activity on eight cannabis bills.

Hearings on WSLCB THC legislation, cannabis waste, advertising, low dose products, patient arrest protections, local override, home grow, and the fate of concentrates were all scheduled.

Senators heard supportive testimony on a bill addressing retail theft and four new bills were prepared for introduction, including two targeting concentrated cannabis products.

Republican representatives were poised to introduce a bill to radically revise the excise tax structure by THC concentration after the public weighed in against taxing patients.

Informed by a small survey of stakeholders, a researcher producing a legislative report recommended officials reduce the availability and use of high-concentration cannabis products.

A cannabis regulatory expert spoke to the committee about cannabinoid regulation, including research, media reporting, federal statistics, and legislative efforts outside of Washington state.

WSLCB board members would meet two new Policy and Rules Coordinators before the Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force convened to approve their final recommendations.