SENATE BILL REPORT
2SHB 1210
As of February 15, 2022
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: 2/2/22, 83-13.
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs: 3/18/21, 3/24/21 [DP, DNP]; 2/17/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Replaces the term "marijuana" with the term "cannabis" throughout the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and requires the Liquor and Cannabis Board to use expedited rulemaking to make the same change to the Washington Administrative Code.
  • Provides that the term marijuana as used under federal law generally refers to the term cannabis used throughout the RCW.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Staff: Matt Shepard-Koningsor (786-7627)
Background:

The term "marijuana" is currently used throughout the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) in areas including adult-use cannabis laws, laws addressing the medical use of cannabis, and laws addressing topics like agriculture, crimes, colleges and universities, public records, compacts with federally-recognized Indian tribes, motor vehicles, health care, and taxes.

 

The Uniform Controlled Substances Act defines "marijuana" as all parts of the plant Cannabis, whether growing or not, with a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration greater than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis; the seeds; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin.  The term expressly does not include the following: 

  • the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks—except extracted resin, fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant that is incapable of germination; or
  • hemp, industrial hemp, or seeds used for licensed hemp production.
Summary of Bill:

The term marijuana is replaced with the term cannabis throughout the RCW. 

 

The Liquor and Cannabis Board must use expedited rulemaking to change the terminology in 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.