The 9th Order

The Washington State Liquor Control Board is now advertising for a marijuana consultant, and the idea that it needs expert advice caused considerable tittering a few weeks back when it was first mentioned at legislative hearings. What, exactly, does it take to be an expert in marijuana? And would anyone dare to admit he or she is qualified?

It was the event of the season, and of course Washington State Wire had a ball. Some 3,000 Washington residents and honored guests attended the Inaugural Ball at the Capitol Wednesday night — and whatever can be said about it, we’ve already said. All our friends were there. So was anyone who was anyone. Rumor had it that the governor was there, but we didn’t see him. We got a lot of pictures, though.

The new Washington Cannabis Association and the Cannabis Coalition for Standards and Ethics make lobbyist hires.

Gov.-elect Jay Inslee is announcing that Chief John Batiste of the Washington State Patrol gets to stay on the job — now watch the fun. The Troopers’ Association had urged his ouster. Which gubernatorial candidate did the troopers endorse, again? You guessed it. Here’s the announcement.

The Cannabis Business Group had strong words for Rep.Hurst and the other legislators who wrote a letter calling for a delay in implementation of Initiative 502 which was passed by the voters last November. Rep. Hurst wants the Legislature to amend the new law.

The office of Gov.-elect Jay Inslee has announced that David Schumacher, former lobbyist for Boeing and non-partisan staff director for the Senate Ways and Means Committee, has been named director of the Office of Financial Management. Here’s the announcement.

Washington State Wire via the Cannabis Wire has been monitoring with great interest the movements of new and existing cannabis coalitions as they prepare to lobby the Washington State Liquor Control Board (LCB). One week before session, three major organizations have emerged:

Consider this another sign that the debate over Initiative 522 is going to get awfully heated, awfully fast. The Northwest Food Processors Association has delivered its opening salvo against the measure, which would require the labeling of seed and food with genetically modified DNA. It was a biggie in California last year, and it’s probably coming to a ballot near you.

Long time Olympia lobbyist and association director Phil Wayt, has filed the necessary papers to represent the Northwest Producers and Processors Association (NWPAPA.org) during the 2013 legislative session and the almost year long process at the Washington Liquor Control Board (WSLCB).

This might sound a little confusing, so pay close attention. The state Department of Revenue says Washington ranks 36th in taxes of all states nationwide, measured as a percentage of personal income. What it means is that there are 35 other states that tax their citizens at a higher rate. And it’s one of those factoids that is sure to be bandied about as lawmakers talk taxes this year. But things look a little different if you measure taxes per capita — the preferred measure for those who think Washington taxes are on the high side. There Washington ranks 21st.