M. Bailey Hirschburg

Here are some observations from the Tuesday May 21st WSLCB Board Caucus. My top 3 takeaways: The board welcomed Sara Cooley Broschart as the agency’s new Public Health Education Liaison (audio – 11m). Cooley Broschart replaced the previous Public Health Education Liaison for WSLCB, Mary Segawa. In December of last year, Scott McCarty was introduced … Continued

This will be our final update about 2019 cannabis legislation barring a significant change in either the state’s budget, or the convening of a special legislative session with implications for cannabis. During the 2019 session, Cannabis Observer relied on the bill information pages on the Washington State Legislature’s website to track bill activity. While we … Continued

Here are some observations from the Wednesday May 15th WSLCB Executive Management Team public meeting. My top 3 takeaways: The legislature appropriated $100K to WSLCB to perform and deliver an interim study on a variable cannabis excise tax rate pegged to product potency (audio – 19m). During roundtable discussion, Agency Director Rick Garza brought up … Continued

Washington’s regular legislative session adjourned sine die on Sunday April 28th. A special legislative session has not been called by Governor Jay Inslee. Throughout the 2019 session, Cannabis Observer summarized legislative activity on cannabis-related bills including the house of origin, committee report, opposite house, and sine die cutoffs; and executive actions as of last Friday. … Continued

Here are some observations from the Wednesday May 1st WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) public meeting. My top 3 takeaways: This week’s “collaboration project report” combined changes in retail licensing with extensive discussion about increasing social equity in Washington’s cannabis marketplace (audio – 2m). The Board last discussed preparations for the work session during the … Continued

Washington’s regular legislative session adjourned sine die on Sunday April 28th. A special legislative session is unlikely to be called by Governor Jay Inslee as the budget was passed. Throughout the 2019 session, Cannabis Observer summarized legislative activity on cannabis-related bills including the house of origin, committee report, opposite house, and sine die cutoffs. We’ve … Continued

Here are some observations from the Wednesday May 1st WSLCB Board Meeting. My top 2 takeaways: The Board adopted final revised rules for mandatory marijuana signage (audio – 4m). See Cannabis Observer’s coverage of the public hearing on the CR-102 draft rules and the preparatory discussion during the previous day’s Board Caucus. Policy and Rules … Continued

Here are some observations from the Tuesday April 30th WSLCB Board Caucus. My top 3 takeaways: Board Member Russ Hauge led a lengthy follow up discussion on the recent Tribal Advisory Council meeting (audio – 30m). See Cannabis Observer’s coverage of the April 24th Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) meeting. Hauge shared his general impression that … Continued

Sunday April 28th is the last day of Washington’s regular legislative session, traditionally called Sine Die. The Legislative Information Center’s “Guide to Lawmaking” describes it this way: “Sine Die is a longstanding tradition in the legislature that either occurs when both chambers are completely finished with legislative business or at midnight on the last day … Continued

Here are some observations from the Tuesday April 23rd WSLCB Board Caucus. My top 3 takeaways: Board Chair Jane Rushford described the kickoff meeting of the agency’s Cannabis 2.0 project (audio – 31m). Rushford first publicly mentioned the Cannabis 2.0 project in late November.  Originally planned for launch in early February, the initiative was postponed … Continued