This session continues to see a high volume of cannabis bills.  Hearings were pretty light, but we revisited two bills that have been worked through a great deal.  Thank you to all of you who participated in our survey on the Out of State Ownership bill.  You can follow the link below to see testimony on that bill including Burl’s testimony.  

The big highlight for us was the hearing on the patient excise tax bill in Regulated Substances and Gaming.  A big thank you to all of you who took the time to sign in PRO.  Your voice was heard and the bill is scheduled for executive session next week on Thursday.  A wholehearted thank you for the moving and compelling testimony from all who testified, including a thoughtful introduction from the bill sponsor Rep. Wylie.  And no list of gratitude would be complete without a big thank you to John Kingsbury for his tireless work advocating for the needs of patients.  We are so grateful to have you on the team!

Speaking of patients, we need your help again.  Arrest protection has dropped in both the House and the Senate and we have a hearing in House Regulated Substances and Gaming on Tuesday 1/31/23 at 4p.  This is another one that would benefit from a long list of sign-ins for PRO.  You can find instructions below in the week ahead. 

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

This Week’s Action:

1/23/23 House Regulated Substances at 1:30p-Public Hearing

HB 1341 – Concerning cannabis license ownership

• Burl testifies at 58:38

1/24/23 House Regulated Substances and Gaming at 4:00p-Public Hearing

HB 1453 – Providing a tax exemption for medical cannabis patients

• Bill Testimony

1/26/23 Senate Labor and Commerce at 8:00a-Public Hearing

SB 5259 – Ensuring commerce and workplaces are safe from product theft

1/26/23 Senate Labor and Commerce at 8:00a-Executive Session

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

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

1/26/23 Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade at 10:30a-Public Hearing

SB 5482 – Concerning the margin tax

New Cannabis Bills that Dropped this Week:

There was more cannabis legislation read-in this week and it is a mixed bag of great and truly terrible.  The rest of our bills are in the hopper and the engine is already warm.  Arrest Protection is scheduled in the House on Tuesday and we expect to see hearings on the Research Commission and Homegrow the week after next.  Three potency bills dropped this week and they range from out of touch to truly unhinged.  None have a hearing yet and we are already strategizing our approach.  It is important that our industry come across as responsible and measured regardless of how outrageous the proposal is in front of us.  When in doubt, signing in CON is a great way to share your opinion.

We always want to hear from you on what you think about legislation.  Please reach-out at any time or stop by in office hours.  Most Fridays, office hours will also have a number of members from the Legislative Committee and we’d be happy to loop you into the conversation.

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

SB 5608 – Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis

SB 5546 – Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission

HB 1581 – Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission

HB 1614 – Concerning the home cultivation of cannabis

HB 1595 – Modifying the cannabis excise tax

HB 1641 – Addressing public health challenges of high-potency cannabis products

HB 1642 – Regulating the sale of cannabis concentrates

The Week Ahead:

There is a great deal of cannabis legislation being heard next week.  We have two priority bills that we need your support on! It will take less than 5 minutes to engage in the process.

CALL TO ACTION

Sign-in PRO today.

1. Go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSI/Senate 
2. Select for Committee: Labor and Commerce
3. Select for Meetings: 1/30/2023 @ 10:30a
4. Select radial button for SB 5376 – Allowing the sale of cannabis waste
5. Select “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”
6. Fill in form making sure to select PRO
7. Submit

Sign-in PRO today.

1. Go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSI/House
2. Select for Committee: Regulated Substances and Gaming
3. Select for Meetings: 1/31/2023 @ 4:00p
4. Select radial button for HB 1563 – Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis
5. Select “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”
6. Fill in form making sure to select PRO
7. Submit

Sign-in PRO today.

1. Go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSI/House
2. Select for Committee: Regulated Substances and Gaming
3. Select for Meetings: 2/2/2023 @ 4:00p
4. Select radial button for HB 1614 – Concerning the home cultivation of cannabis
5. Select “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”
6. Fill in form making sure to select PRO
7. Submit

Sign-in CON today.

1. Go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSI/House
2. Select for Committee: Regulated Substances and Gaming
3. Select for Meetings: 2/2/2023 @ 4:00p
4. Select radial button for

   HB 1641 – Addressing public health challenges of high-potency cannabis products

   HB 1642 – Regulating the sale of cannabis concentrates
5. Select “I would like my position noted for the legislative record”
6. Fill in form making sure to select CON
7. Submit

1/30/23 Senate Labor and Commerce at 10:30a – Public Hearing

SB 5367 – Concerning the regulation of products containing THC

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

SB 5376 – Allowing the sale of cannabis waste

SB 5363 – Concerning cannabis retailer advertising

SB 5340 – Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products

SB 5263 – Concerning access to psilocybin services by individuals 21 years of age and older

1/31/23 House Regulated Substances and Gaming at 4:00p-Public Hearing

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

1/31/23 Senate Labor and Commerce at 10:30a – Executive Session

SB 5080 – Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program.

SB 5123 – Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis.

SB 5376 – Allowing the sale of cannabis waste.

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

2/2/23 House Regulated Substances and Gaming at 8:00a – Public Hearing

HB 1614 – Concerning the home cultivation of cannabis

HB 1641 – Addressing public health challenges of high-potency cannabis products

HB 1642 – Regulating the sale of cannabis concentrates

2/2/23 House Regulated Substances and Gaming at 8:00a – Executive Session

HB 1453 – Providing a tax exemption for medical cannabis patients