Legislative Priorities

Each year, in an effort to understand our members' most pressing issues, The Cannabis Alliance surveys our membership on their legislative and regulatory priorities. Each of our members receive one vote (e.g. 1 membership = 1 vote). Our members pride themselves on caring about the entire community including consumers and patients. These values are reiterated by our membership’s selected priorities.

The Cannabis Alliance addresses these issues through the dedicated work of committee members. If your are passionate about any/all of the issues above please consider joining an Alliance committee today.

Cannabis as Agriculture

Since the passage of Initiative 502 in 2012, the cannabis industry has played a vital role in the fiscal health of the State of Washington. Cannabis excise tax revenues are distributed to a variety of state agencies and programs, including the LCB, DOH, the UW, WSU, and the Health Care Authority. A significant amount of cannabis excise tax revenues also goes to support the state General Fund. Currently the State has earned more than $750 million dollars in excise taxes, with an additional $360 million in sales tax. We ask for your support in establishing sensible policies for the long-term health of this industry.

The Objective:

By fully recognizing the cultivation of cannabis as agriculture, we build in vital and necessary supports for growers. These supports can include:

Help with developing pest management plans for safer growing methods and final products.
Opportunities for farmers to get continuing education and support services traditionally available to other farmers which help to educate farmers on how to grow safe, affordable, high quality products for their consumers.
Access to programs aimed at maintaining water quality, promoting soil conservation and more.

Removing the Excise Tax on Medicine

Currently patients in Washington State utilizing cannabis to help with their conditions must pay a 37% excise or “sin” tax on their medicine. Not only is this fundamentally wrong but it creates several additional consequences such as forcing patients to use cheaper products since they cannot afford the higher quality and more costly items or, worse, it forces them to seek their medicine on the illicit market.

The Objective:

Remove the excise tax for qualified patients. This will not only help patients acquire their medicine at a more reasonable cost but it will incentivize retailers to carry DOH compliant product (tested for pesticides and heavy metals) and incentivize producers and processors to grow and manufacture DOH compliant or “medical’ product.

Support our priorities by donating or becoming a member today.

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