Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee
(WA House RSG)

Unanimously supportive testimony on a bill to remove the cannabis excise tax for medical patients registered with the state called attention to problems around taxing medicine.

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.

Board members expressed their willingness to support multiple bills for medical cannabis patients and spoke at length about their approach to interacting with the state legislature.

The out-of-state ownership bill was heard, two seasoned bills were set for introduction, and medical cannabis patients would make their case for excise tax exemption in 2023.

Legislation to permit out-of-state ownership and suspend inactive producers received mostly supportive testimony, with opposition centered on equity implications from the change.

Legislators continued to undertake cannabis bills slowly, especially in the senate, but perennial subjects like out-of-state ownership had been positioned for consideration.

On Thursday, representatives heard—and questioned—a WSLCB history of the 502 marketplace as senators prepared executive sessions for two cannabis bills the following week.

Patients would get another chance at excise tax exemption, WSLCB leadership prepared to tell their 502 story, and only two cannabis bills were scheduled for action the following week.

Interstate commerce legislation was advanced in the Senate but delayed in the House, and cannabis packaging law changes drew support from the advocates who showed up.

The committee approved interstate cannabis commerce legislation and sent it to the chamber’s Rules Committee where it would await action on other cannabis bills.