OpenTHC

Rulemaking to implement alcohol legislation included a cannabis-related bill; public commenters gave input on cannabis traceability and called for more updates about environmental pesticides.

The longtime Director of WSLCB planned to step down, CCRS 2.0 was on track to go live, and public comments touched on equity, traceability, transparency, and the cannabis economy.

Staff said goodbye to two retiring division heads and heard several critical public comments before the chair gave a lengthy defense of the agency's continued work on social equity.

Agency leaders met the new Director of Legislative Relations then heard reports on their legislative agenda, social equity, medical endorsements, hiring, work groups, and CCRS.

Board members denied a petition on use of customer ID data, rescinded an interim traceability policy, and heard public comments about the promised social equity retail program.

Just as social equity rulemaking at WSLCB was concluded, a report alleging abusive behavior by a former task force leader reinvigorated lingering public skepticism over agency progress.

WSLCB leaders reviewed progress on the cannabis reporting system, agency request legislation, and enforcement data showing increased pesticide complaints and fewer AVN hearings.

A new tribal compact was signed, several rulemaking projects were underway though one was withdrawn, and a hearing on social equity plus public comments elicited a range of opinions.

The board approved filing proposed cannabis testing rule changes, hosted a public hearing on regulation of cannabinoids, and responded to several public comments.

CFO Jim Morgan told agency leadership CCRS remained on track and testing revealed no significant bugs; meanwhile, an informal integrator group formed to facilitate data exchange.