Washington CannaBusiness Association
(WACA)

Licensees gave another round of feedback to agency staff engaged in rulemaking on how to set limits and requirements for cannabis product sampling by retail staff.

Staff heard stakeholder feedback as they hoped to simplify cannabis sample rules while also improving accountability around how product samples were utilized within the sector.

Staff received more input on how draft agency request bills on contract growing for patients and advertising changes might potentially impact patients, businesses, and the cannabis market.

WSLCB leaders introduced two concepts for 2024 request legislation, one for medical patients to contract with licensees; another to revise limits around cannabis retail advertising.

A new manager took over the Policy and Rules work at WSLCB and provided updates on a legislatively mandated cannabis project and a licensee survey for a rulemaking petition.

WSLCB members would consider four rulemaking actions before the Hemp in Food Task Force convened one last time, ending that effort without a clear path forward for hemp consumables.

The Governor approved a bill to allow interstate cannabis agreements if the practice became permitted by federal government action - and legislation had been introduced in Congress to do just that.

Legislators greeted the final week of the 2023 regular session as WSLCB staff cleaned up a policy mess nearly made near the sleeping giant of environmental pesticide contamination.

Hemp industry members opposed a bill on THC regulation, but an agency representative as well as several cannabis industry, public health, and substance prevention groups backed the move.

Testimony on a cannabis commission showed disagreements over the body’s potential value; supporters emphasized the bill gave licensed producers the power to decide for themselves.