Washington State Health Care Authority Prevention Research Subcommittee
(WA HCA PRSC)

Concerns about youth substance use and high THC products predominated agendas at multiple agencies, but perspectives of public health and prevention interests remained hidden.

Regulators were ready to continue or initiate rulemaking processes in the week following the end of the legislative session while prevention researchers reviewed their findings.

A new bill to raise the age limit on cannabis concentrates and require additional educational resources received support from prevention groups but opposition from cannabis stakeholders.

Members had difficulty offering guidance on THC regulation due to wording in a 2023 law but considered other issues the group could make meaningful contributions towards in the future.

WA HCA staff presented the newest strategic plan for substance use disorder prevention and mental health promotion, touching on the history, goals, and groups that created the plan.

As legislators sought perspectives on contemporary cannabis policy issues and regulators willingly shared, a group of publicly-funded prevention researchers kept their doors closed.

Lawmakers were briefed on the continued evaluation of I-502, including the most recent implementation report and an overview of the 2023 report on how cannabis revenue was spent.

Public health researchers and prevention advocates discussed a report associating increased health risks with concentrated cannabis products and ways to enact policy change.

During the annual state prevention summit, public health and prevention practitioners heard “A Couple of Things About Cannabis” and got an early look at a report on cannabis potency.

As the holiday season grew near, cannabis policymaking and legislative planning activity increased - most notably among public health and prevention advocates.