Cannabis Advisory Council 12/17/19 Thoughts and Observations

By
Lukas Barfield

           I attended the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board's (WSLCB) Cannabis Advisory Council for the first time as the "patient representative." The agenda for the two hour meeting included a speaker covering the vaping crisis, a overview of the Boards' priorities for the upcoming session and a presentation from other groups about their priorities in the 2020 legislative session. Although the Board and other members were very welcoming, I heard little at the Council that will benefit medical cannabis patients on the horizon. Here are some of my thoughts on the meeting.  

       In terms of patient safety the vaping presentation was alarming. According to the Board only 400 out of over 4000 "ingredient disclosure" forms have been turned in. These are forms the Board is asking, a little to politely imo, vape cart processors to turn in, disclosing the ingredients to their vape carts.  If ever there was an argument for separate medical cannabis products this is one. The Board seems to be unaware how dangerous unknown contaminants can be to people with severe health issues, or not care. There really seemed to be no sense of urgency on figuring out what is in the vape carts out there in the 502.

       The next agenda item revealed the Boards plan to help patients this session. The one bill they have for patients, which still has to be given the green light by the Governor, is to allow registered medical cannabis patients to buy directly from Tier 1 producers. Sort of a good idea, the plan in theory would help struggling Tier 1's and allow patients to buy from their favorite farm. This idea is rife with problems, the least of which is how are patients, who many can't drive, going to get out to the rural farms? And, where are all the registered patients asking for this. Hint, there are none.

          The final item asked Council members to present their priorities for the coming session. The Washington Cannabusiness Association offered up some awful legislation, trying to mask a corporate capital influx with an equity bill. bad idea. They also want to allow CBD only in 502 stores, another bad idea.  I did hear the words "farmer's market" from several groups.  My priorities included removal of the 37% excise tax on medical cannabis,  better legal protections for patients, clarification on designated providers and donation limits and education. I didn't' mention it, but homegrows are also on my priority list. What's some of yours. Send over any suggestions you may have to emailmmcws@gmail.com

        Overall, I came away from the meeting feeling like I do when I interact on this level with most able bodied people. They have no idea how to communicate with, talk about, work with or help people with disabilities . To me medical cannabis is first a disability issue, then a economic or farming issue. Definitely not a law enforcement issue as the Board seems to think. In short, they just don't get it. but, that's why I'm doing this. I want to help them get it and "yes", maybe the LCB will never get it, but just having more voices speaking up for patients will help in the long run.

Washington Could be the 5th State to Allow Medical Cannabis in Schools

      The Washington State Senate has passed a bill requiring school districts to allow parents to administer CBD infused products on public school grounds, on buses and at school sanctioned events. Following a 77-19 vote in the Washington House, the bill passed easily in the Senate with a vote of 41-4 and is now headed back to the House for final approval. Students receiving the nonsmokable cannabidiol must be registered in the state medical cannabis database and only their parents are permitted to administer the CBD rich products, a provision meant to protect school district employees from issues with the Federal Government. Additionally, portions of the bill requires a review of the program if the federal Government does threaten school funding.

      The prime sponsor of the bill for the third year, Representative Brian Blake, D Aberdeen commented “We want to give the school system, the K-12 system, some comfort because they said they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think there was some objections in the Republican caucus about the word marijuana in the title. think it freaked people out.”

 (From Rep Brian Blake quote to Spokesman Review)

      Despite recent advances in Cannabidiol public policy and science, thirty three states and D.C. have full plant medical cannabis systems, with ~17 more having high CBD laws, the FDA famously approved the first oral CBD spray in 2018 and the University of Alabama Birmingham recently found CBD to be an effective treatment for seizure disorders, school districts around the country still struggle at the intersection of local, state and Federal cannabis laws. Remarkably, if passed Washington would only be the fifth state to require school districts statewide to allow parents to administer medical cannabis at schools.

Help Pass 2021, the Seed and Clone bill, in the Senate

Help Pass 2021, the Seed and Clone bill, in the Senate

      HR 2021, a bill that will legalize the sale of clones to medical cannabis patients on and off the registry, passed the House with a vote of 88-9. It passed through committees with not one “No” vote. However, the committee it has landed in in the Senate can’t be described as cannabis friendly. Ann Rivers ( R ), sponsor of 5052, the so called Cannabis Patient Protection Act, is the chair of the committee.

Please contact the members of the committee and ask them to vote “Yes” on HR 2021, the Seed and Clone bill.  

Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov,

Elizabeth.Pebley@leg.wa.gov,

Randi.Becker@leg.wa.gov,

Tiffani.Sanne@leg.wa.gov

Barbara.Bailey@leg.wa.gov,

Vicki.Angelini@leg.wa.gov,

Kuderer.Patty@leg.wa.gov,

Jennifer.Fay@leg.wa.gov,

Annette.Cleveland@leg.wa.gov,

Vickie.Winters@leg.wa.gov,

Michael.Baumgartner@leg.wa.gov,

Matt.McCoy@leg.wa.gov,

Joe.Fain@leg.wa.gov,

Frazier.Willman@leg.wa.gov,

Karen.Keiser@leg.wa.gov,

Jennifer.Minich@leg.wa.gov,

Steve.Conway@leg.wa.gov,

Kimberlie.Lelli@leg.wa.gov

Mark.Miloscia@leg.wa.gov,

Trixie.Harmon@leg.wa.gov,

Mark.Mullet@leg.wa.gov,

Adam.Day@leg.wa.gov,

Steve.OBan@leg.wa.gov,

Michelle.Lewis@leg.wa.gov,

Maureen.Walsh@leg.wa.gov,

Skyler.Rude@leg.wa.gov,

Help Pass WA Clone and Seed Bill HB 2021 `

The seed and clone bill, HB 2021, has moved to the House Finance Committee. Send over a quick note to the committee members with a personal story how having access to clones or seeds will benefit you or someone you know. The bill does allow patients off the registry to get seeds or clones, so its an ok bill. Here are the emails for committee members and staff.

Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov,

Robin.Howe@leg.wa.gov

Noel.Frame@leg.wa.gov,

Michelle.Butler@leg.wa.gov,

Terry.Nealey@leg.wa.gov,

Meagan.Allen@leg.wa.gov,

Ed.Orcutt@leg.wa.gov,

Michelle.Trzecinski@leg.wa.gov,

Cary.Condotta@leg.wa.gov,

Brandt.Cappell@leg.wa.gov,

Laurie.Dolan@leg.wa.gov,

Eileen.Swarthout@leg.wa.gov,

Gerry.Pollet@leg.wa.gov,

Angie.Weiss@leg.wa.gov,

Larry.Springer@leg.wa.gov,

Diana.Hart@leg.wa.gov,

Drew.Stokesbary@leg.wa.gov,

Gina.Palermo@leg.wa.gov,

Sharon.Wylie@leg.wa.gov,

Megan.Walsh@leg.wa.gov,

JT.Wilcox@leg.wa.gov,

Sharon.Trask@leg.wa.gov,

http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2021&Year=2017