The Week Ahead
(February 3, 2020)

The Legislature planned to convene 8 public hearings and at least 8 executive sessions across 7 committee meetings while the WSLCB prepared to adopt a slate of new emergency rules.

Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on Cannabis Observer’s calendars in the week ahead.

Monday February 3rd

On Monday at 8:30am PT, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Traceability 2.0 Work Group planned to convene an informal Harvest Subcommittee.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Following up on the last Traceability 2.0 Work Group meeting (January 24th), a subset of work group participants planned to discuss and document harvest practices to ensure the agency had a good understanding of producer workflows.

On Monday at 10am PT, the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LBRC) planned to meet to hear two cannabis-related bills.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Public Hearing on SB 6333 - “Reducing youth access to products intended for consumption only by adults age twenty-one and over.” Senate companion to HB 2321 heard on January 21st.
  • Public Hearing on SB 6206 - “Creating a certificate of compliance for marijuana business premises that meet the statutory qualifications at the time of application.” Senate companion to HB 2359 heard on January 30th.
  • A public hearing on SB 6332 - “Concerning the potency of marijuana products” was removed from the WA Senate LBRC schedule on Friday afternoon following Thursday’s hearing for its companion in the House, HB 2546, which Commerce and Gaming Committee Chair Strom Peterson concluded by announcing, “this bill is not going to be moving out of this committee but the conversation certainly is.”
  • We expect executive sessions during many committee meetings this week as the Legislature approaches its first cutoff deadline on Friday February 7th whereupon bills must be moved out of their house of origin policy committees to continue. Thus far this session, WA Senate LBRC has tended not to announce the bills it hosts executive sessions on in advance. This past Tuesday morning, committee members passed the wholesale discounts bill (SB 6057 - "Concerning price differentials in the sale of marijuana.") out of committee with a do pass recommendation without prior announcement on their agenda.

On Monday at 1:30pm PT, the Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG) meets to hear five cannabis-related bills and potentially host executive sessions on three more.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Public Hearings
    • HB 2247 - “Aligning marijuana licensing decisions by the liquor and cannabis board with local zoning ordinances.”
    • HB 2279 - “Improving the development of the marijuana market by enacting provisions specific to craft cannabis production.” Following Micah Sherman’s public comment to the WSLCB on January 22nd, the Board discussed the bill in caucus and during a legislative update with the agency’s Executive Management Team.
    • HB 2826 - “Clarifying the authority of the liquor and cannabis board to regulate marijuana vapor products.” The THC vapor products bill requested by the WSLCB at the prompting of the Governor.
    • HB 2870 - “Allowing additional marijuana retail licenses for social equity purposes.” The WSLCB’s proposed social equity program.
    • HB 2871 - “Establishing a retail privilege endorsement to a marijuana producer license.” The WSLCB’s proposed means of addressing medical cannabis patient and tier 1 producer concerns.
  • Possible Executive Sessions
    • HB 2296 - “Concerning the regulation of hemp, including products derived from hemp.” Heard on January 20th.
    • HB 2300 - “Authorizing marijuana retailers to sell cannabidiol products.” Heard on January 20th.
    • HB 2359 - “Creating a certificate of compliance for marijuana business premises that meet the statutory qualifications at the time of application.” Heard on January 30th.

On Monday at 1:30pm PT, the Washington State Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee (WA Senate HLTC) may consider one cannabis-related bill during executive session.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • SB 6254 - “Protecting public health and safety by enhancing the regulation of vapor products.” The non-THC vapor products bill, requested by the Governor and shepherded by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), had its public hearing on January 22nd.

Tuesday February 4th

On Tuesday at 10am PT, the weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.

On Tuesday at 3:30pm PT, the Washington State Labor and Workplace Standards Committee (WA House LAWS) may consider one cannabis-related bill during executive session.

On Tuesday at 3:30pm PT, WA House COG may host executive sessions on two cannabis-related bills.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • HB 2321 - “Reducing youth access to products intended for consumption only by adults age twenty-one and over.” Heard on January 21st.
  • HB 2870 - “Allowing additional marijuana retail licenses for social equity purposes.” WSLCB’s proposed social equity program, heard the day before on February 3rd.

Wednesday February 5th

On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • Notably, the Board planned to adopt multiple new emergency rules intended to establish enforcement authority over licensees utilizing vitamin E acetate as a cutting agent and mandate disclosure of vapor product ingredients [ handouts ].

On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) planned to host a public hearing on the home grow bill, marking the farthest progression of any such bill in Washington state history.

On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the weekly WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) meeting was scheduled to convene the three-member Board and agency leadership.

Thursday February 6th

On Thursday at 8am PT, WA House COG may consider one cannabis-related bill during executive session.

  • [ Event Details ]
  • HB 2826 - “Clarifying the authority of the liquor and cannabis board to regulate marijuana vapor products.” WSLCB’s THC vapor products bill, heard on Monday.

Friday February 7th

On Friday at 12pm PT, the Cannabis Observer Legislative Meetup was scheduled to recur.[ Event Details ]