SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1210
As of March 18, 2021
Title: An act relating to replacing the term "marijuana" with the term "cannabis" throughout the Revised Code of Washington.
Brief Description: Replacing the term "marijuana" with the term "cannabis" throughout the Revised Code of Washington.
Sponsors: House Committee on Commerce & Gaming (originally sponsored by Representatives Morgan, Peterson, Kloba, Johnson, J., Ryu, Santos, Ortiz-Self, Ormsby, Simmons, Gregerson, Riccelli, Macri, Frame and Harris-Talley).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/6/21, 77-21.
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs: 3/18/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Replaces the term marijuana with the term cannabis throughout the Revised Code of Washington.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Staff: Matt Shepard-Koningsor (786-7627)
Background:

The term marijuana is currently used in various statutory contexts throughout the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).  Under the state Uniform Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is defined to include all parts of the plant Cannabis, whether growing or not, with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration greater than 0.3 percent on a dry-weight basis, and includes the seeds, resin extracted from any part of the plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin.

 

Hemp is also derived from the Cannabis plant.  Under the RCW chapter establishing a licensing and regulatory program for hemp production, hemp is defined as the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant, including the seeds and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 THC concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

 

A key factor in distinguishing marijuana and hemp is the amounts of THC each contains.  Specifically, whether the THC concentration is greater than, or not more than, 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.  The THC concentration references the percentage of delta-9 THC content per dry weight of any part of the Cannabis plant, or per volume or weight of the product, or the combined percentage of delta-9 THC and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in any part of the Cannabis plant, regardless of moisture content.
Summary of Bill:

Technical changes are made throughout the RCW replacing the term marijuana with the term cannabis.  The term marijuana as used under federal law generally refers to the term cannabis used throughout the RCW.

 

The Liquor and Cannabis Board must use expedited rulemaking to replace the term marijuana with the term cannabis throughout Title 314 of the Washington Administrative Code.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains several effective dates. Please refer to the bill.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  The term marijuana is pejorative and racist, based on a longstanding theory that the term was chosen over the scientific term, cannabis, when crafting drug laws.  As recreational marijuana use became more popular, it was negatively associated with numerous racial, ethnic, occupational, and socioeconomic categories.  Marijuana is negatively connected to communities of color.  Today, the word marijuana is a reminder of racism and persecution.

 

OTHER:  Cannabis is a scientific term for the plant.  We support this bill with a qualifier of high-THC to the term cannabis.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture supports this bill with the amendment addressing hemp.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Melanie Morgan, Prime Sponsor.
OTHER: Jessica Tonani, Verda Bio; Kelly McLain, Washington State Department of Agriculture.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.