Washington State Department of Commerce

Another WSLCB staffer prepared to depart, proposed quality control testing rules would be revised, and the cannabis social equity and marijuana odor task forces began to take shape.

Agency leadership discussed the WSLCB’s emerging plans for implementation of HB 2870’s marijuana social equity program and rulemaking timelines were advanced.

The Governor signed HB 2870, WSLCB’s request legislation establishing a social equity program, competitive grants, and a task force to help open a new cycle of retail licensure.

Revised cannabis penalties and QA rules were poised to be advanced at Wednesday’s board meeting and the WSLCB Director expanded on his testimony to the Legislature.

Public hearings on cannabis-related bills HB 2263 and HB 2361 filled the hearing room to capacity, and generated significantly more resistance than promotion.

New details on the WSLCB’s legislative agenda, a Regulators Roundtable redux, plus an update on testing labs, the traceability contract, and the Hillard Heintze report.

Agency leadership discussed messaging for Cannabis 2.0, vapor products, hemp/CBD, and traceability while learning the latest numbers from the licensing division.

The WSLCB’s Cannabis 2.0 project is garnering the attention of leadership at other state agencies ahead of the 2020 legislative session.

The Board discussed agency and industry proposals for social equity programs as well as the latest news about vaping-related illnesses and deaths.