S-0248.1

SENATE BILL 5069

BySenators Rivers, Keiser, King, Stanford, Conway, Holy, and Van De Wege

AN ACT Relating to interstate cannabis agreements; adding a new section to chapter 43.06 RCW; and providing a contingent effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.06 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The governor may enter into an agreement with another state or states for the purposes of:

(a) Cross-jurisdictional coordination and enforcement of cannabis-related businesses authorized to conduct business in this state, the other state, or both; and

(b) Cross-jurisdictional delivery of cannabis between this state and the other state.

(2) An agreement entered into under this section must ensure:

(a) Enforceable public health and safety standards are met and include a system to regulate and track the interstate delivery of cannabis;

(b) Any cannabis delivered into this state, prior to sale to a consumer, is:

(i) Tested in accordance with rules adopted by the department of health under RCW 15.125.020 and 69.50.375, and by the liquor and cannabis board under RCW 69.50.342, 69.50.345, and 69.50.348;

(ii) Packaged and labeled in accordance with RCW 69.50.346 and rules adopted by the liquor and cannabis board under RCW 69.50.342 and 69.50.345; and

(c) Applicable taxes on the sale, delivery, and receipt of cannabis are collected.

(3) In accordance with an agreement entered into under this section:

(a) A cannabis producer, cannabis processor, cannabis researcher, or cannabis retailer licensed under chapter 69.50 RCW may deliver cannabis to a person located in, and authorized to receive cannabis by, the other state.

(b) A cannabis producer, cannabis processor, cannabis researcher, or cannabis retailer licensed under chapter 69.50 RCW may receive cannabis from a person located in, and authorized to export cannabis by, the other state.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "cannabis," "cannabis processor," "cannabis producer," "cannabis researcher," "cannabis retailer," and "person" have the meanings provided in RCW 69.50.101.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. (1) This act takes effect on the earlier of the date on which:

(a) Federal law is amended to allow for the interstate transfer of cannabis between authorized cannabis-related businesses; or

(b) The United States department of justice issues an opinion or memorandum allowing or tolerating the interstate transfer of cannabis between authorized cannabis-related businesses.

(2) If either of the conditions in subsection (1) of this section occur, the liquor and cannabis board must:

(a) Provide written notice of the effective date of section 1 of this act to affected parties, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the code reviser, and others deemed appropriate by the board;

(b) Provide written notice of statutory changes necessary to authorize the sale, delivery, and receipt of cannabis in accordance with an agreement entered into under section 1 of this act to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature; and

(c) Adopt rules necessary to authorize the sale, delivery, and receipt of cannabis in accordance with an agreement entered into under section 1 of this act.

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