Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Commerce & Gaming Committee

HB 2474

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the label on a marijuana product container sold at retail to include the business or trade name and Washington Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number of the marijuana producer and processor that produced and processed the marijuana product, consistent with Liquor and Cannabis Board rules.
Provides that the label on a marijuana product container sold at retail is not required to include the business or trade name or UBI number of, or any information about, the marijuana retailer selling the marijuana product.

Background:

Initiative 502 (2012), which legalized recreational marijuana in the state, required the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to adopt rules determining the nature, form, and capacity of all containers used by licensees to contain marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products, and their labeling requirements.

The LCB's rules must include but are not limited to the following labeling requirements for marijuana products sold at retail:

the business or trade name and Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number of the licensees that processed and sold the marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products;
lot numbers of the marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products;
the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration and cannabidiol (CBD) concentration of the marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products;
medically and scientifically accurate information about the health and safety risks posed by marijuana use; and
the statement "Warning—May be habit forming[,]" which is required pursuant to a separate state law on the misbranding of drugs.

Through rulemaking, the LCB requires additional labeling information like product weight, a statement disclosing all pesticides applied to the marijuana plants and growing medium during production and processing, and all of the following warning statements:

"Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health";
"There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product";
"Should not be used by women that are pregnant or breast feeding";
"For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of children";
"Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug[.]"

Summary of Bill:

The label on a marijuana product container sold at retail must include the business or trade name and Washington Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number of the marijuana producer and processor that produced and processed the marijuana product.

The label on a marijuana product container sold at retail is not required to include the business or trade name or UBI number of, or any information about, the marijuana retailer selling the marijuana product.