Miller Nash LLP

The board received a high level briefing on cashless payment options for retailers, approved filing proposed social equity program rules, and heard several critical public comments.

Sharply divided testimony on a bill to add more members and non-voting legislators to the WSLCB board suggested the idea was controversial in both the cannabis and alcohol sectors.

Some licensees, WSLCB staff, and prevention advocates encouraged lawmakers to pass request legislation on cannabinoid regulation, while other licensees preferred a competing bill.

Following arguments from attorneys, a superior court judge ruled an Idaho businessman did not have standing to challenge the statute and rules creating residency requirements for cannabis licensees.

Drawing over 100 attendees, nine participants commented on new definitions for ‘characterizing flavor’ and ‘terpenes’ instrumental to new WSLCB public safety and prevention authorities.

The Board carried out planned rulemaking actions, learned the true party of interest rulemaking project may be further delayed, and honored the resignation of their long-time policy researcher.

Stakeholders helped WSLCB continue developing a legislative mandate to enable licensees to request compliance education consultations and site visits under lessened threat of AVNs.

Over 60 participants signed in to observe or provide comments on draft conceptual rules developed during a lengthy CR-101 stage for the True Party of Interest rulemaking project.

Public hearings on cannabis-related bills HB 2263 and HB 2361 filled the hearing room to capacity, and generated significantly more resistance than promotion.

After months of effort by an external work group, the complete rewrite of I-502 violations and associated penalties elicited a total of two comments.