We are in the home stretch.  We passed the policy committee cut-off on Wednesday and all bills are either waiting a turn in fiscal committees or in Rules waiting on a floor vote.  One cannabis bill passed the legislature on Wednesday.  Sen. Keiser’s pre-employment screening bill is now waiting for the governor’s signature.  Additional carve outs were added along the way for exemptions, but our general feeling is we’ve got to start somewhere and folks now have more protection of autonomy in their private lives!

Continue to stay tuned on fiscal committees on social media.  The cannabis research commission needs to be scheduled for a hearing still and we could use your help urging Appropriations to hear the bill and pass it on to rules.  Here are instructions on what to do:

CALL TO ACTION 

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

3/27/23 Senate Labor and Commerce at 10:30a

Executive Session

• HB 1563 – Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis
  • No discussion
  • Passed to Rules

3/27/23 House Regulated Substances and Gaming at 1:30p

Executive Session

• SSB 5405 – Modifying the liquor and cannabis board’s subpoena authority
  • Staff briefing at :48
  • Discussion at 14:20
  • Passed to Rules 
• SSB 5546 – Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission
  • Staff briefing at 3:26
  • Discussion at 20:25
  • Passed to Appropriations

3/28/23 House Regulated Substances and Gaming at 4:00p

Executive Session

• SB 5363 – Concerning cannabis retailer advertising
  • Staff briefing at :28
  • Discussion at 3:13
  • Passed to Rules

3/29/23 Floor Vote

• E2SSB 5123 – Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis
  • Passed: yeas, 57; nays, 41; absent, 0; excused, 0

3/30/23 House Appropriations at 1:30p

Public Hearing

• E2SSB 5080 – Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program
  • Hearing begins at 12:00

3/31/23 House Appropriations at 1:30p

Public Hearing

• E2SSB 5367 – Concerning the regulation of products containing THC

Floor action all week.  Stay tuned on social media for bills as they are moved to the floor calendar or subscribe to The Cannabis Observer Slack for real time reporting.

4/1/23 House Appropriations at 9:00a

Executive Session

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

Priority Legislation

Cannabis Research Commission

• SSB 5546 – Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission
  • Waiting for a hearing in Appropriations.  Fiscal cutoff is April 4th.
  • Issue Brief
  • FAQ’s
  • Webinar Wednesday

Patient Excise Tax

• HB 1453 – Providing a tax exemption for medical cannabis patients
  
  • Reserved for NTIB (necessary to implement the budget).  Look for action close to the end of session.  Sine Die (session adjourned) April 23rd.
  • Issue Brief
  • Webinar Wednesday

Arrest Protection

• HB 1563 – Concerning arrest protections for the medical use of cannabis
  • Waiting in Rules to be placed on the floor calendar.  Floor vote cut-off is April 12th.
  • Issue Brief

Interstate Commerce Trigger Bill

• SB 5069 – Allowing interstate cannabis agreements
  • Waiting in Rules to be placed on the floor calendar.  Floor vote cut-off is April 12th.
  • Issue Brief

LCB Agency Request Legislation

Social Equity

• E2SSB 5080 – Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program
  • Executive session April 1st in Appropriations. 

Cannabinoids

• E2SSB 5367 – Concerning the regulation of products containing THC

Subpoena Power

• SSB 5405 – Modifying the liquor and cannabis board’s subpoena authority
  • Waiting in Rules to be placed on the floor calendar.  Floor vote cut-off is April 12th.

Remaining Cannabis Legislation

Combining Alcohol and THC

• HB 1772 – Prohibiting products that combine alcohol and tetrahydrocannabinol
  • Waiting in Rules to be placed on the floor calendar.  Floor vote cut-off is April 12th.

Beverage Sale Limits

• SB 5340 – Regarding limits on the sale and possession of retail cannabis products
  • Waiting in Rules to be placed on the floor calendar.  Floor vote cut-off is April 12th.

Retail Advertising

• SB 5363 – Concerning cannabis retailer advertising
  • Waiting in Rules to be placed on the floor calendar.  Floor vote cut-off is April 12th.