This week has been all floor action and Rules Committees sorting through bills.  It is a section of the legislative process that is unpredictable, not particularly transparent, and in the works at all hours.  This is the part where we do a lot of waiting and our contract lobbyist, Al Ralston, works all the angles to make sure our bills are pulled to the floor.  We have 5 more days for legislation to get a vote and we are in decent shape.  As of the writing of this update, we have three priority bills out of the house of origin, and two ready to be pulled to the floor.

We’ll keep you updated as legislation moves on social media and noses to the grindstone through the March 8th cut-off.  We keep track on the leg website, but the most valuable tool we have is The Cannabis Observer website and slack.  Thank you Gregory Foster and Bailey Hirshberg for your vigilance! 

If you’d like to follow along with cannabis legislation as it develops, you can view our Bill Tracker HERE.

House

HB 1772 – Prohibiting products that combine alcohol and tetrahydrocannabinol

• Passed: yeas, 94; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 1
• Referred to Labor and Commerce

HB 1563 – Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis

• Passed: yeas, 63; nays, 32; absent, 0; excused, 3

In House Rules waiting to go on the floor calendar

• HB 1453 – Providing a tax exemption for medical cannabis patients
• HB 1159 – Allowing interstate cannabis agreements
• HB1249 – Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products
• HB 1650 – Requiring voter approval for local government prohibitions on cannabis businesses
• HB 1822 – Concerning complimentary products provided by short-term rental operators to guests

Senate

SB 5069 – Allowing interstate cannabis agreements

• Passed: yeas, 40; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 1
• Referred to Regulated Substances and Gaming

E2SSB 5080 – Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program

• Passed: yeas, 32; nays, 15; absent, 0; excused, 2
• Referred to Regulated Substances and Gaming

ESSB 5123 – Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis

• Passed; yeas, 28; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0
• Referred to Labor and Workplace Standards

SSB 5405 – Modifying the liquor and cannabis board’s subpoena authority

• Passed: yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2
• Referred to Regulated Substances and Gaming

E2SSB 5367 – Concerning the regulation of products containing THC

• Passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0

In Senate Rules waiting to go on the floor calendar

• SB 5340 – Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products
• SB 5363 – Concerning cannabis retailer advertising
• SB 5376 – Allowing the sale of cannabis waste
• SB 5377 – Concerning cannabis license ownership
• SB 5546 – Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission

Cannabis Research Commission

SSB 5546 – Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission

• Passed out of Ways and means to Rules with some minority support.  We are working with the bill sponsor and other legislators on potential amendments on the floor as well as fielding an onslaught of misinformation from opposition.  If you’d like to know more about the commission and what it would do check out these resources:
• Issue Brief
• FAQ’s
• Webinar Wednesday

Patient Excise Tax

HB 1453 – Providing a tax exemption for medical cannabis patients

• Deadline for House of Origin is March 8th. Rep. Wylie has proven to be a strong champion and we are working hard to ensure the bill comes up for a vote.   

Arrest Protection

HB 1563 – Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis

• PASSED THE HOUSE TODAY!  

Cannabis Waste

SB 5376 – Allowing the sale of cannabis waste

• Deadline for House of Origin is March 8th.  

Interstate Commerce Trigger Bill

SB 5069 – Allowing interstate cannabis agreements

• Passed the Senate on March 2!

HB 1159 – Allowing interstate cannabis agreements

• Referred to Rules and up for a second reading.  We are still expecting the Senate bill will be the vehicle.

Social Equity

SSB 5080 – Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program

• Passed the Senate February 28 and referred to Regulated Substances and Gaming.  This bill continues to change and we are continuing to listen to community members on developments. 

Cannabinoids

E2SSB 5367 – Concerning the regulation of products containing THC

• Passed the Senate March 2.  This bill has started to drum-up a good amount of controversy with the limits on hemp in edibles.  Full legal analysis hasn’t been done yet, but with the push to eliminate any THC in products outside i502, the future of legal hemp in WA is in question.  Expect a heated debate in the next policy hearing.

Subpoena Power

SSB 5405 – Modifying the liquor and cannabis board’s subpoena authority

• We’ll keep watching this bill as it moves.

We are now coming up on the cut-off for house of origin on March 8th and until then it will mostly be floor action.  We’ll be watching every day as we put pressure on legislators to bring our bills up for a floor vote.  We don’t often know what will be considered until the morning of and we will keep you in the loop on social media as floor action is published.

3/9/23 House Regulated Substances and Gaming at 8:00a – Public Hearing

SSB 5405 – Modifying the liquor and cannabis board’s subpoena authority