United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA)

Lawmakers looked into how funds had been spent to help producers affected by contaminated soil and heard about a potential “service gap” in lab accreditation expected in July 2024.

Members reviewed already-submitted edits and suggested final changes to WSLCB recommendations on THC detectability, lab technology, product safety, and future topics.

A second workshop to get responses to draft lab accreditation rules dealt with questions about the costs and process behind DOE staff taking over lab authority from WSLCB.

A congressional committee heard how lack of federal rulemaking on CBD and hemp products contributed to endangering consumers through sale of unsafe hemp-derived cannabinoid products. 

In Oregon and Washington, land grant university and federal agricultural scientists invited the public to tour experimental fiber and grain hemp fields to learn about contemporary research.

The group contemplated human safety guidance for different cannabis products, research on growing cannabis in contaminated soil, and implementing a new standard for THC detectability.

The WSDA Legislative Liaison reviewed department work impacting hemp and cannabis rules before taking questions about staffing and issues expected in the 2023 legislative session.

An expert briefing on social equity programs was a “depressing" preview of challenges any effort to distinguish applicants by race-based criteria would likely face before a “hostile” federal judiciary.

Summer is “officially” over as judged by policymaking on traceability, 2022 legislation, synthesized cannabinoids, and medical cannabis taxation in the week ahead.