H-0818.1
HOUSE BILL 1884
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Waters and Reeves
Read first time 02/07/25. Referred to Committee on Consumer Protection & Business.
AN ACT Relating to creating regulatory certainty and consistency for Washington's regulated cannabis system by establishing enforcement priorities, creating regulatory processes, and detecting and preventing the illegal inversion and diversion of cannabis and cannabis products into and out of Washington's regulated cannabis system; amending RCW 69.50.562 , 69.50.345 , 69.50.342 , and 34.05.328 ; adding a new section to chapter 69.50 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The regulated cannabis industry in Washington state has, year over year, demonstrated the highest rates of preventing youth access among all the regulated sectors. In addition, the regulated businesses have demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of safety and contribution to the state by submitting to high testing standards and regulatory oversight. Further, the regulated industry faces extreme challenges in competing with the unregulated illicit market because of the high taxes, inconsistent enforcement and complicated regulatory burdens placed on the regulated market. The legislature intends to partner with those who choose to be regulated and taxed to prevent illegal, unsafe activities that threaten the promise of a new approach to cannabis. Washington has established precedent in creating regulatory certainty, consistency in and prioritization of enforcement activities within the department of labor and industries. The legislature has also previously adopted legislation describing its direction to the agency regarding upholding compliance while prioritizing issues that concern youth access and public safety. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that the liquor and cannabis board establish policies and procedures to create more regulatory certainty and set priorities for enforcement activities to focus such activities on the violations that most impact public health and safety and the sustainability of the regulated market. Further, it is the intent of the legislature that the two highest priorities for enforcement shall be youth prevention and prevention of inversion and diversion of cannabis. Finally, it is the intent of the legislature that the board place less priority and effort in pursuing enforcement actions on businesses that do not have a direct impact on these priorities.
Sec. 2. RCW 69.50.562 and 2022 c 16 s 106 are each amended to read as follows: