Merger To Be Studied
Page 20, section 141 the Senate Budget, SB 5034 directs the Liquor Control Board, LCB, to work with the Department of Revenue, DOR, and the Department of Health, DOH to study common aspects of cannabis production and use in Washington State, and prepare a report for the legislature by January 1, 2014. Since the language is in the LCB section of the budget it appears the LCB will be lead. The exact language calls for an evaluation and recommendations of the “interaction of the medical marijuana regulations and the provisions of Initiative Measure No. 502.”
What’s Studied?
The budget language goes on to list issues that must be included, but they are sighted as minimums. The LCB and the other agencies seem situated to wonder into any area of interest they please. Listed as the essential issues to review and comment are: age limits (the two laws differ on age of legal possession), authorizations requirements from healthcare providers and a review of the “regulations regarding health care professionals” themselves.
Also to be considered in the review and the recommendations are issues of possession amounts, locations requirements, production, processing and retailing licenses, and the big one; taxation.
Today the House Appropriations Committee heard the bill today, and will exec the House striker tomorrow (April 11th). There are strong indications that the House version will retain the Senate study-and-recommend language.
The Collision
This collision has been coming since early public forums on I-502, held by the LCB this winter. It became more and more apparent that a loosely regulated MMJ law (an initiative itself) needed review. SB 5887, introduced this session by Senator Rivers, R-La Center, would go a long way to patch up a number of the review list items. Rumors in the Senate point to hearing on SB 5887 sometime in the next week
or so.
A Single Regulatory Platform
Colorado has already recommended a blending of the their MMJ law and their recreational use provision. It is probably the ghost of Christmas future for states as they legalize recreational use. It is also a move feared or at least concerning to a lot of folks in the MMJ community.
Next we will see if the House maintains the review. With Chairs Hunter and Carlyle both active participants in the cannabis debate with hearings and bills of their own, it is only logical that a strong review of the advantages of the single production and retail platform is paramount. Acquisition, taxation, and enforcement issues beg a review of mutual advantages for Washington and it’s citizens.
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