The Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) considers issues relating to labor issues, including unemployment insurance, industrial insurance/workers’ compensation, prevailing wage, collective bargaining, worker rights and benefits, and the Washington Cares Act. The committee also considers commerce issues, including the regulation of certain professions and businesses, and alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis.
Two amendments added “sideboards” and data analysis to legislation to modify and expand social equity licensing; Senators gave favorable remarks before passing the bill.
The first substantial cannabis legislation was passed by the Senate, home grow was heard in its fiscal committee, and four cannabis bills were positioned for executive sessions on Thursday.
Within its fiscal committee, testimony on a cannabinoid regulation bill championed by WSLCB was divided, there were THC threshold concerns, but also claims the bill helped cannabis tax revenue.
Leaders touched on several bills concerning cannabinoid regulation and “inactive” producer licenses in addition to a favorable court ruling and social equity program updates.
Three cannabis bills were advanced through the house of origin policy committee gateway before it closed on Friday as fiscal committee members prepared for a dense week of activity.
The WRAP Act was further unwrapped, fiscal committee schedules for the following week were announced, and the House cannabis policy committee had a full agenda ahead of the Friday cutoff.
Four more bills made it through the house of origin policy committee gateway while fiscal committees ramped up activity in the sprint before the first cutoff deadline on Friday.
Four cannabis-related bills were advanced during executive session including changes to bills on cannabinoid regulation and retail theft, while bills on infused beverages and advertising were unchanged.
In the final week before the first policy committee cutoff, quite a few cannabis bills were positioned for late hearings and last minute executive sessions before Friday.
The sponsor made reasoned arguments for producer-led cannabis research, but industry members were divided over whether the time was right for a cannabis commodity commission.
