A number of years in the past, these elevating issues in regards to the psychological well being impacts of high-potency hashish have been largely ignored within the Legislature.
Now, many lawmakers concede the state is grappling with an actual downside. Nonetheless, motion stays maddeningly elusive.
A Home invoice crafted by Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, would have raised the age minimal from 21 to 25 to buy merchandise with THC concentrates larger than 35%. Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, sponsored an identical measure for consideration within the Senate.
The Managed Substances & Gaming Committee within the Home handed an amended model of Davis’ HB 2320 — however stripped out the age minimal. As a substitute, the weakened laws requires hashish retailers to put up an indication warning that top THC merchandise could enhance the danger of psychotic issues.
Within the Senate, the Labor & Commerce Committee handed Salomon’s model that included the age restrict however directed the state Liquor and Hashish Board to outline excessive THC concentrates. That was progress, and offered hope to well being advocates that this may be the yr that one thing — something — may occur on high-potency hashish.
The invoice died within the Senate Methods & Means Committee when the chair, Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, refused to permit it to maneuver ahead. When requested how Robinson made her choice, a spokesperson replied: “The committee knew the Home companion (HB 2320) was shifting.”
However shifting in what route? Lawmakers in each chambers nonetheless have time to do one thing substantive, however the window is closing.
Senate Invoice 6271 takes a special tack. Supported by representatives of the hashish business, it might require the LCB to provide you with suggestions for imposing a graduated tax on high-potency hashish merchandise whereas reducing different hashish taxes. The plan is due in 2026.
It handed the Senate by 44-5. A listening to within the Home Committee on Regulated Substances & Gaming is scheduled for Feb. 14.
It’s value emphasizing: SB 6271 requires no actions, regardless that a College of Washington examine in 2020 included a consensus assertion that use of high-potency hashish will increase threat of habit and will increase the chance of growing psychotic issues corresponding to schizophrenia.
Final month, the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures produced an summary of state legal guidelines on high-potency hashish by 2023. That is what it discovered:
• 10 states restrict the acquisition or possession of THC merchandise by quantity or proportion — however not Washington.
• Eight states restrict efficiency of THC by product or class — however not Washington.
• Six states handed insurance policies associated to high-potency merchandise — however not Washington.
• Two states tax hashish merchandise by THC efficiency — however not Washington.
Lawmakers involved that regulating hashish would solely shift manufacturing to the illicit market ought to learn the research the Legislature commissioned.
A Washington State Well being Care Authority report on excessive THC coverage famous that measures corresponding to implementing larger taxes can be useful to Washingtonians: “Whereas some unlawful market will at all times exist, as is the case with tobacco and alcohol, the web good thing about such measures needs to be constructive, particularly for decreasing hashish initiation and reducing frequency of use of excessive THC merchandise amongst customers who usually favor a authorized market.”
Taking extra time and commissioning extra research underscores that legislators are extra involved in regards to the hashish business than the psychological well being of younger folks. There couldn’t be a extra damning judgment about who’s actually in cost in Olympia.
