On Thursday, the Washington State House panel made another step towards allowing interstate cannabis commerce. They advanced a Senate-approved bill to allow businesses in Washington State to import and export marijuana products.
Senate Bill 5069 (R) would allow the governor to sign agreements with legal states in order to allow interstate commerce between licensed cannabis businesses. It would only be effective if there is a federal law amendment “to allow interstate cannabis transfer” or if the U.S. Department of Justice issues an opinion “allowing” or “tolerating” marijuana commerce between states, according to the measure’s content.
If any of the federal conditions in the bill is met, the state regulators will be required to give written notice of the federal policy shift and any state-level “statutory modifications necessary to authorise the sale, delivery, or receipt of cannabis from out-of state companies. The rules needed for cross-border commerce would also be required by regulators.
Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Delaware, said that the bill would allow us to play on the same playing field as other states in the event that the federal government makes different decisions than they have so far. The bill was approved by the panel 8-2, with one member expelled.
The proposal was voted down by Republicans. Rep. Jim Walsh (R), said he was a “soft yes” and expressed concern that the bill gave the executive branch the power to enter into cannabis trade agreements. Walsh stated, “Not that I would need a special session to decide if the feds modify their plan,” but he said he wanted to protect the legislature’s discretion and ability to make these calls.
After clearing required committee stop in February, the full Senate approved the legislation. While companion legislation had been filed in the House however, lawmakers there opted to continue with the Senate-passed vehicle.
SB5069 would require products from businesses outside of Washington to conform to Washington regulations. This includes packaging and labeling.
Although the House panel was supposed to consider an amend to Wylie’s legislation, the lawmaker pulled her proposal change before Thursday’s vote.
Wylie successfully added the change to the House companion bill. It would have specified that interstate commerce coordination and enforcement must be compatible with Washington’s “policies, programs to redress injustices that exist from previous cannabis prohibition and enforcement laws” and include steps to ensure equity in application of agreements at all level and in all jurisdictions.
Rivers, the bill’s prime sponsor, called Washington, which legalized marijuana for adults in 2012 through a ballot initiative, “a leader in cannabis industry.” However, she warned that the state’s cannabis industry could be “left in the dust” if it isn’t able to act on federal law changes.
“We know that legalization at the federal level will be coming. She said that bills have been introduced, and it seems like legalization is getting closer. “So, we can trust our governor to look after this industry and ensure that business flows from our state to other States and back to us in an legal and safe manner. This can also be enforced.”
Washington State’s legislation is the latest attempt at state-level preparation for interstate cannabis commerce. Federally, marijuana remains illegal. Last year , California’s governor signed an identical measure . Oregon Governor. Kate Brown (D), signed interstate cannabis commerce legislation in 2019.
The opposite side of the country, New Jersey’s Senate president submitted a similar proposal last ye, but it has yet to be enacted.
In Washington, an earlier this week House committee introduced legislation to protect job applicants from being discriminated against because they use marijuana. The bill, which passed the full Senate last month would prohibit employers from refusing to hire applicants for testing positive for marijuana on pre-employment drug screenings. However, workers could still be fired if they test positive for marijuana after being hired.
This session, state lawmakers have been considering numerous drug and cannabis policy bills. One of the bills that will be considered by the committee next week would further investigate the therapeutic use of psilocybin . Last month, lawmakers rejected a proposal to allow home cultivation of marijuana. This means that it remains a crime in the state to grow marijuana for personal use.
Three States’ Lawmakers Advance Bills To Legalize Safe Drug Consumption Sites
The post Washington House Panel Approves Senate Bill To Allow Interstate Cannabis Commerce was first published on Marijuana Moment.
Fourth of April, the first Arizona cannabis store to be owned by a Black woman will open.