Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New [amending] WAC 314-55-077(13).
Reasons for this Finding: The immediate adoption of a rule establishing summary license suspension and petition for stay provisions is necessary for the enforcement of Washington state board of health (SBOH) rules described in chapter 246-80 WAC banning the sale of flavored vapor products. The board has the authority and responsibility to adopt rules for the preservation of public health.
The Centers for Disease Control, United States Food and Drug Administration, Washington state department of health, and many other state and local health departments are currently investigating a multistate outbreak of lung disease associated with vapor product use. More than one thousand cases have been reported across the United States, including twenty-six deaths. Twelve cases of lung injury have been reported in Washington state, and the number of cases is expected to grow. Approximately eighty percent of the cases nationwide have been reported in individuals under thirty-five years of age, with sixteen percent of the cases involving individuals under eighteen years of age and twenty-one percent of the cases involving individuals from eighteen to twenty years old. All reported patients have a history of using vapor products. The specific chemical exposure(s) causing the disease remain unknown, and no single product or substance has been linked to all lung injury cases.
The SBOH health impact review of HB 1932 found strong evidence that prohibiting the sale of flavored vapor products will likely decrease initiation and use of vapor products among adolescents and young adults. Reducing the initiation and use of vapor products by youth and young adults will reduce the exposure of our most vulnerable population to the current outbreak of severe lung disease associated with the use of vapor products.
Because the outbreak of lung disease is occurring now and growing, the immediate adoption of rules that establish provisions necessary for both the enforcement of chapter 246-80 WAC and preservation of public health, safety and general welfare. The board filed a preproposal statement of inquiry on May 29, 2019, as WSR 19-12-029 that includes revision and updates exclusive to WAC 314-55-077 (8) and (9). This emergency rule is not being considered as part of any future rule proposal associated with WSR 19-12-029.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: October 23, 2019.
(1) A marijuana processor license allows the licensee to process, dry, cure, package, and label useable marijuana, marijuana concentrates, and marijuana-infused products for sale at wholesale to marijuana processors and marijuana retailers.
(2) Application and license fees.
(a) The application fee for a marijuana processor license is two hundred fifty dollars. The applicant is also responsible for paying the fees required by the approved vendor for fingerprint evaluation.
(b) The annual fee for issuance and renewal of a marijuana processor license is one thousand three hundred eighty-one dollars. The WSLCB will conduct random criminal history checks at the time of renewal that will require the licensee to submit fingerprints for evaluation from the approved vendor. The licensee is responsible for all fees required for the criminal history checks.
(c) The application window for marijuana processor licenses is closed. The WSLCB may reopen the marijuana processor application window at subsequent times when the WSLCB deems necessary.
(3) Any entity and/or principals within any entity are limited to no more than three marijuana processor licenses.
(4)(a) A marijuana processor that makes marijuana-infused solid or liquid product meant to be ingested orally (marijuana edibles) must obtain a marijuana-infused edible endorsement from the department of agriculture as required under chapter
15.125 RCW and rules adopted by the department to implement that chapter (chapter 16-131 WAC). A licensee must allow the WSLCB or their designee to conduct physical visits and inspect the processing facility, recipes, and records required under WAC 314-55-087 during normal business hours or at any time of apparent operation without advance notice.
(b) A marijuana processor licensed by the board must ensure marijuana-infused edible processing facilities are constructed, kept, and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition in accordance with rules and as prescribed by the Washington state department of agriculture under chapter
15.125 RCW and rules promulgated to implement chapters 16-131, 16-165 and 16-167 WAC.
(5)(a) A marijuana processor may blend tested useable marijuana from multiple lots into a single package for sale to a marijuana retail licensee so long as the label requirements for each lot used in the blend are met and the percentage by weight of each lot is also included on the label.
(b) A processor may not treat or otherwise adulterate useable marijuana with any organic or nonorganic chemical or other compound whatsoever to alter the color, appearance, weight, or smell of the useable marijuana.
(6) Recipes, product, packaging, and labeling approval.
(a) A marijuana processor licensee must obtain label and packaging approval from the WSLCB for all marijuana-infused products meant for oral ingestion prior to offering these items for sale to a marijuana retailer. The marijuana processor licensee must submit a picture of the product, labeling, and packaging to the WSLCB for approval. More information on the product, packaging, and label review process is available on the WLSCB's website at www.lcb.wa.gov.
(b) All recipes for marijuana-infused products meant for oral ingestion (marijuana edible products) must be approved by the department of agriculture under chapter 16-131 WAC. Licensees must obtain recipe approval from the department of agriculture prior to submitting any marijuana edible products, packages, and labels for review and approval by the WSLCB. The recipe for any marijuana-infused solid or liquid products meant to be ingested orally must be kept on file at the marijuana processor's licensed premises and made available for inspection by the WSLCB or its designee.
(c) If the WSLCB denies a marijuana-infused product for sale in marijuana retail outlets, the marijuana processor licensee may request an administrative hearing under chapter
34.05 RCW, Administrative Procedure Act.
(7) With the exception of the marijuana, all ingredients used in making marijuana-infused products for oral ingestion must be a commercially manufactured food as defined in WAC 246-215-01115.
(8) Marijuana-infused edible products in solid or liquid form must:
(a) Be homogenized to ensure uniform disbursement of cannabinoids throughout the product; and
(b) Until January 1, 2019, prominently display on the label "This product contains marijuana."
(9) A marijuana processor is limited in the types of food or drinks they may infuse with marijuana. Marijuana-infused products that require cooking or baking by the consumer are prohibited. Marijuana-infused products that are especially appealing to children are prohibited. Marijuana-infused edible products such as, but not limited to, gummy candies, lollipops, cotton candy, or brightly colored products, are prohibited.
(a) To reduce the risk to public health, potentially hazardous foods as defined in WAC 246-215-01115 may not be infused with marijuana. Potentially hazardous foods require time-temperature control to keep them safe for human consumption and prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms or the production of toxins. Any food that requires refrigeration, freezing, or a hot holding unit to keep it safe for human consumption may not be infused with marijuana.
(b) Other food items that may not be infused with marijuana to be sold in a retail store include:
(i) Any food that has to be acidified to make it shelf stable;
(ii) Food items made shelf stable by canning or retorting;
(iii) Fruit or vegetable juices (this does not include shelf stable concentrates);
(iv) Fruit or vegetable butters;
(v) Pumpkin pies, custard pies, or any pies that contain egg;
(vi) Dairy products of any kind such as butter, cheese, ice cream, or milk; and
(vii) Dried or cured meats.
(c) Vinegars and oils derived from natural sources may be infused with dried marijuana if all plant material is subsequently removed from the final product. Vinegars and oils may not be infused with any other substance, including herbs and garlic.
(d) Marijuana-infused jams and jellies made from scratch must utilize a standardized recipe in accordance with 21 C.F.R. Part 150, revised as of April 1, 2013.
(e) Per WAC 314-55-104, a marijuana processor may infuse dairy butter or fats derived from natural sources and use that extraction to prepare allowable marijuana-infused solid or liquid products meant to be ingested orally, but the dairy butter or fats derived from natural sources may not be sold as stand-alone products.
(f) The WSLCB may designate other food items that may not be infused with marijuana.
(10) Marijuana processor licensees are allowed to have a maximum of six months of their average useable marijuana and six months average of their total production on their licensed premises at any time.
(11) Processing service arrangements. A processing service arrangement is when one processor (processor B) processes useable marijuana or an altered form of useable marijuana (marijuana product) for another licensed processor (processor A) for a fee.
(a) Processor A is the product owner. However, processor B may handle the product under its license as provided in chapter
69.50 RCW and this chapter. Processor B is not allowed to transfer the product to a retailer and may only possess marijuana or marijuana products received from processor A for the limited purposes of processing it for ultimate transfer back to processor A.
(b) Processing service arrangements must be made on a cash basis only as provided in WAC 314-55-115 and payment for the service and return of the processed product must be made within thirty calendar days of delivery to processor B. Failure to do so as provided by the preceding sentence is a violation of this section and any marijuana or marijuana product involved in the transaction will be subject to seizure and destruction. Payment with any marijuana products, barter, trade, or compensation in any form other than cash for processing service arrangements is prohibited under processing service arrangements.
(c) Each processor that enters into a processing service arrangement must include records for each service arrangement in recordkeeping documents which must be maintained consistent with this chapter.
(12) Marijuana may not be returned by any retail licensee to any processor except as provided in this section.
(a) Every processor must maintain on the licensed premises for a period of five years complete records of all refunds and exchanges made under this section including an inventory of marijuana and marijuana products returned to the processor by any retail licensee.
(b) Marijuana may be returned by a retail licensee in the event a retailer goes out of the business of selling marijuana at retail and a cash refund, as defined by WAC 314-55-115, may be made upon the return of the marijuana or marijuana products, so long as WSLCB approval is acquired prior to returns and refunds under this subsection.
(c) Marijuana products different from that ordered by a retailer and delivered to the retailer may be returned to a processor and either replaced with marijuana products which were ordered or a cash refund, as defined by WAC 314-55-115, may be made. These incorrect orders must be discovered and corrected within eight days of the date the delivery was made to be eligible for returns and refunds under this subsection.
(d) A marijuana processor may accept returns of products and sample jars from marijuana retailers for destruction, but is not required to provide refunds to the retailer. It is the responsibility of the retailer to ensure the product or sample jar is returned to the processor.
(13) The board may take disciplinary action against any processor that fails to comply with the provisions of chapter 246-80 WAC.