SENATE BILL REPORT

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.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Labor & Commerce, February 19, 2018

Title: An act relating to information on marijuana product container labels about the businesses that produced, processed, or sold the marijuana product.

Brief Description: Modifying marijuana product labeling requirements.

Sponsors: Representatives Condotta, Sawyer and Kloba.

Brief History: Passed House: 1/22/18, 88-7.

Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 2/19/18, 2/19/18 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires the label on a marijuana product container sold at retail to include the business or trade name and Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number of the marijuana producer and processor that produced and processed the marijuana product, consistent with Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) rules.

  • Provides that the label on a marijuana product container is not required to include the business or trade name or UBI number of the marijuana retailer selling the marijuana product.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Hasegawa, Vice Chair; Conway, King, Kuderer, Saldaña and Wilson.

Staff: Richard Rodger (786-7461)

Background: Initiative 502 (2012), which legalized recreational marijuana in the state, required the 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.

One of the LCB's rules requires all marijuana products sold at retail to include the business or trade name and UBI number of the licensees that processed and sold the marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused products.

Summary of Bill: The label on a marijuana product container sold at retail must include the business or trade name and 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.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This summer the LCB convened a work group to make recommendations on the labeling requirements for marijuana packaging. The group reviewed the requirements to determine which provisions were necessary from a safety perspective. One statutory requirement that the group reviewed was the requirement that the name of the retailer's identifying information must be included on the label. The group was unanimous that this requirement did not contribute to product safety and crowded the label where actual safety items are included. The LCB agrees with this change and, as it is a statutory requirement, could not make this change by administrative rule.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Cary Condotta, Prime Sponsor; Vicki Christophersen, Washington CannaBusiness Association; Chris Thompson LCB.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.