The Week Ahead
(May 27, 2019)

Are you ready for another round of cannabis packaging and labeling changes?

Here’s a look at the week ahead.

TUESDAY: On Tuesday May 28th at 10am PT @ WSLCB, the weekly Board Caucus recurs [ agenda ].

WEDNESDAY: On Wednesday May 29th at 10am PT @ WSLCB, the bi-weekly Board Meeting recurs [ agenda ]. WSLCB Policy and Rules Coordinator Kathy Hoffman is scheduled to introduce a new CR-101 to re-open cannabis packaging and labeling rules.

On April 30th, the Board reviewed three petitions for rulemaking introduced by The Cannabis Alliance and approved moving forward on two of the requests which impact packaging and labeling (eliminating the requirement for an “external measuring device” on cannabis infused beverages and decreasing plastic packaging thickness).

At that time, we also noted:

Referencing the currently active board interim policies (BIP) on packaging and labeling, Hoffman mentioned the opportunity to expand the scope of the proposed new rulemaking to formalize the BIPs and incorporate SB 5298, currently on Governor Jay Inslee’s desk. Asked if it was worth engaging stakeholders more broadly about waste streamlining, Hoffman was receptive to “a broader view of packaging and labeling in general.”

In the interim time, SB 5298 was signed by the Governor.  The Board also met the new Public Health Education Liaison Sara Cooley Broschart who shared her eagerness to invite public health and prevention community perspectives into this round of cannabis packaging and labeling rulemaking.

Hoffman is also scheduled to provide a “Rulemaking Forecast” at the Board Meeting to describe prioritization of existing rulemaking projects and new rulemaking projects emerging from the eleven cannabis-related bills passed during the 2019 legislative session.

On Wednesday, the bi-weekly WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) Meeting has been canceled. Last week’s EMT meeting was also canceled, as projected.

THURSDAY: On Thursday at 10am PT @ WSLCB, an additional Marijuana Traceability Project (MTP) Integrator Work Session occurs. This is not a formal public meeting, but is open to interested parties. Last week, the third-party software providers requested an additional meeting this Thursday in preparation for the planned launch of MJ Freeway Leaf Data Systems version 1.37.5 next week on Thursday June 6th.