Washington State Senate Financial Institutions, Economic Development, and Trade Committee
(WA Senate FIET)

Four cannabis-related bills were heard or advanced on Thursday whereas four others were more clearly withdrawn from consideration as committee schedules for the following week continued to fill out.

An update on retail social equity licensing preceded public comments that ranged from praise of the process to accusations of corruption and conflicts of interest.

After an update on social equity license applicants, board members heard encouragement, criticism, and questions about the program, among other comments, from the public.

Legislators asked for additional information during testimony on a bill to expand the social equity program before an unscheduled WSLCB panel joined the hearing to field questions.

Four new cannabis bills were scheduled for introduction in the senate, interstate commerce was ready to be moved in both chambers, and the social equity hearing was briefly continued.

Opinions differed on an ordinance requiring a “cannabis needs assessment” on industry equity, but other measures on city equity licenses and worker retention were less controversial.

The board rejected a petition to make curbside and walk-up cannabis sales permanent, rescinded another interim policy, and heard public remarks - some apparently “not necessarily helpful.”

Staff briefed on a bill with complex changes to recommended cannabis tax appropriations before testimony emphasized benefits for transparency, social equity, and local governments.

Committee members heard positive testimony on a bill to increase penalties for cannabis retail robberies, and asked questions about the frequency of incidents and other solutions.

A joint request bill to establish an interagency cannabis lab standards team was wholeheartedly supported by representatives of the agencies which drafted the legislation.