Due to advancements in research and development in the cannabis industry nationwide, the legislature finds there is a need to provide consumers legal access to products that have been tested and which meet standards for quality and safety, while preventing intoxicating products from being sold outside of the regulated adult use marketplace, such as delta-8 THC, THC-O, and HHC. The legislature further finds that a comprehensive scientific review of cannabinoid science is needed to inform the legislature as to the appropriate statutory framework for the regulated industry.
This section modifies existing section 69.50.101. Here is the modified chapter for context.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
a. "Administer" means to apply a controlled substance, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, directly to the body of a patient or research subject by:
a practitioner authorized to prescribe (or, by the practitioner's authorized agent); or
the patient or research subject at the direction and in the presence of the practitioner.
"Agent" means an authorized person who acts on behalf of or at the direction of a manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser. It does not include a common or contract carrier, public warehouseperson, or employee of the carrier or warehouseperson.
"Board" means the Washington state liquor and cannabis board.
"CBD concentration" has the meaning provided in RCW 69.51A.010.
"CBD product" means any product containing or consisting of cannabidiol.
"Commission" means the pharmacy quality assurance commission.
"Controlled substance" means a drug, substance, or immediate precursor included in Schedules I through V as set forth in federal or state laws, or federal or commission rules, but does not include hemp or industrial hemp as defined in RCW 15.140.020.
[Empty]
"Controlled substance analog" means a substance the chemical structure of which is substantially similar to the chemical structure of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II and:
i. that has a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system substantially similar to the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance included in Schedule I or II; or
ii. with respect to a particular individual, that the individual represents or intends to have a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system substantially similar to the stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance included in Schedule I or II.
The term does not include:
i. a controlled substance;
ii. a substance for which there is an approved new drug application;
iii. a substance with respect to which an exemption is in effect for investigational use by a particular person under Section 505 of the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 355, or chapter 69.77 RCW to the extent conduct with respect to the substance is pursuant to the exemption; or
iv. any substance to the extent not intended for human consumption before an exemption takes effect with respect to the substance.
i. "Deliver" or "delivery" means the actual or constructive transfer from one person to another of a substance, whether or not there is an agency relationship.
"Department" means the department of health.
"Designated provider" has the meaning provided in RCW 69.51A.010.
"Dispense" means the interpretation of a prescription or order for a controlled substance and, pursuant to that prescription or order, the proper selection, measuring, compounding, labeling, or packaging necessary to prepare that prescription or order for delivery.
"Dispenser" means a practitioner who dispenses.
"Distribute" means to deliver other than by administering or dispensing a controlled substance.
"Distributor" means a person who distributes.
"Drug" means (1) a controlled substance recognized as a drug in the official United States pharmacopoeia/national formulary or the official homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United States, or any supplement to them; (2) controlled substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in individuals or animals; (3) controlled substances (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of individuals or animals; and (4) controlled substances intended for use as a component of any article specified in (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection. The term does not include devices or their components, parts, or accessories.
"Drug enforcement administration" means the drug enforcement administration in the United States Department of Justice, or its successor agency.
"Electronic communication of prescription information" means the transmission of a prescription or refill authorization for a drug of a practitioner using computer systems. The term does not include a prescription or refill authorization verbally transmitted by telephone nor a facsimile manually signed by the practitioner.
"Immature plant or clone" means a plant or clone that has no flowers, is less than twelve inches in height, and is less than twelve inches in diameter.
"Immediate precursor" means a substance:
that the commission has found to be and by rule designates as being the principal compound commonly used, or produced primarily for use, in the manufacture of a controlled substance;
that is an immediate chemical intermediary used or likely to be used in the manufacture of a controlled substance; and
the control of which is necessary to prevent, curtail, or limit the manufacture of the controlled substance.
"Isomer" means an optical isomer, but in subsection (gg)(5) of this section, RCW 69.50.204(a) (12) and (34), and 69.50.206(b)(4), the term includes any geometrical isomer; in RCW 69.50.204(a) (8) and (42), and 69.50.210(c) the term includes any positional isomer; and in RCW 69.50.204(a)(35), 69.50.204(c), and 69.50.208(a) the term includes any positional or geometric isomer.
"Lot" means a definite quantity of marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused product identified by a lot number, every portion or package of which is uniform within recognized tolerances for the factors that appear in the labeling.
"Lot number" must identify the licensee by business or trade name and Washington state unified business identifier number, and the date of harvest or processing for each lot of marijuana, marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, or marijuana-infused product.
"Manufacture" means the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or indirectly or by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and includes any packaging or repackaging of the substance or labeling or relabeling of its container. The term does not include the preparation, compounding, packaging, repackaging, labeling, or relabeling of a controlled substance:
by a practitioner as an incident to the practitioner's administering or dispensing of a controlled substance in the course of the practitioner's professional practice; or
by a practitioner, or by the practitioner's authorized agent under the practitioner's supervision, for the purpose of, or as an incident to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale.
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 the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination; or
Hemp or industrial hemp as defined in RCW 15.140.020, seeds used for licensed hemp production under chapter 15.140 RCW.
aa. "Marijuana processor" means a person licensed by the board to process marijuana into marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products, package and label marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products for sale in retail outlets, and sell marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products at wholesale to marijuana retailers.
bb. "Marijuana producer" means a person licensed by the board to produce and sell marijuana at wholesale to marijuana processors and other marijuana producers.
dd. "Marijuana researcher" means a person licensed by the board to produce, process, and possess marijuana for the purposes of conducting research on marijuana and marijuana-derived drug products.
ee. "Marijuana retailer" means a person licensed by the board to sell marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products in a retail outlet.
ff. "Marijuana-infused products" means products that contain marijuana or marijuana extracts, are intended for human use, are derived from marijuana as defined in subsection (y) of this section, and have a THC concentration no greater than ten percent. The term "marijuana-infused products" does not include either useable marijuana or marijuana concentrates.
gg. "Narcotic drug" means any of the following, whether produced directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis:
Opium, opium derivative, and any derivative of opium or opium derivative, including their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, whenever the existence of the salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation. The term does not include the isoquinoline alkaloids of opium.
Synthetic opiate and any derivative of synthetic opiate, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, whenever the existence of the isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation.
Poppy straw and concentrate of poppy straw.
Coca leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives or ecgonine or their salts have been removed.
Cocaine, or any salt, isomer, or salt of isomer thereof.
Cocaine base.
Ecgonine, or any derivative, salt, isomer, or salt of isomer thereof.
Any compound, mixture, or preparation containing any quantity of any substance referred to in (1) through (7) of this subsection.
hh. "Opiate" means any substance having an addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining liability similar to morphine or being capable of conversion into a drug having addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining liability. The term includes opium, substances derived from opium (opium derivatives), and synthetic opiates. The term does not include, unless specifically designated as controlled under RCW 69.50.201, the dextrorotatory isomer of 3-methoxy-n-methylmorphinan and its salts (dextromethorphan). The term includes the racemic and levorotatory forms of dextromethorphan.
ii. "Opium poppy" means the plant of the species Papaver somniferum L., except its seeds.
jj. "Person" means individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal or commercial entity.
kk. "Plant" has the meaning provided in RCW 69.51A.010.
ll. "Plant Cannabis" means all plants of the genus Cannabis, including marijuana as defined in subsection (y) of this section, and hemp as defined in RCW 15.140.020.
nn. "Practitioner" means:
A physician under chapter 18.71 RCW; a physician assistant under chapter 18.71A RCW; an osteopathic physician and surgeon under chapter 18.57 RCW; an osteopathic physician assistant under chapter 18.57A RCW who is licensed under RCW 18.57A.020 subject to any limitations in RCW 18.57A.040; an optometrist licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW who is certified by the optometry board under RCW 18.53.010 subject to any limitations in RCW 18.53.010; a dentist under chapter 18.32 RCW; a podiatric physician and surgeon under chapter 18.22 RCW; a veterinarian under chapter 18.92 RCW; a registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse under chapter 18.79 RCW; a naturopathic physician under chapter 18.36A RCW who is licensed under RCW 18.36A.030 subject to any limitations in RCW 18.36A.040; a pharmacist under chapter 18.64 RCW or a scientific investigator under this chapter, licensed, registered or otherwise permitted insofar as is consistent with those licensing laws to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or administer a controlled substance in the course of their professional practice or research in this state.
A pharmacy, hospital or other institution licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or to administer a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research in this state.
A physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery, a physician licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery, a dentist licensed to practice dentistry, a podiatric physician and surgeon licensed to practice podiatric medicine and surgery, a licensed physician assistant or a licensed osteopathic physician assistant specifically approved to prescribe controlled substances by his or her state's medical commission or equivalent and his or her supervising physician, an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed to prescribe controlled substances, or a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in any state of the United States.
oo. "Prescription" means an order for controlled substances issued by a practitioner duly authorized by law or rule in the state of Washington to prescribe controlled substances within the scope of his or her professional practice for a legitimate medical purpose.
pp. "Production" includes the manufacturing, planting, cultivating, growing, or harvesting of a controlled substance.
qq. "Qualifying patient" has the meaning provided in RCW 69.51A.010.
rr. "Recognition card" has the meaning provided in RCW 69.51A.010.
ss. "Retail outlet" means a location licensed by the board for the retail sale of marijuana concentrates, useable marijuana, and marijuana-infused products.
tt. "Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's designee.
uu. "State," unless the context otherwise requires, means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
vv. "THC concentration" means percent of tetrahydrocannabinol content per dry weight of any part of the plant , or per volume or weight of marijuana product, or the combined percent of tetrahydrocannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in any part of the plant regardless of moisture content.
ww. "Ultimate user" means an individual who lawfully possesses a controlled substance for the individual's own use or for the use of a member of the individual's household or for administering to an animal owned by the individual or by a member of the individual's household.
yy. "Youth access" means the level of interest persons under the age of twenty-one may have in a vapor product, as well as the degree to which the product is available or appealing to such persons, and the likelihood of initiation, use, or addiction by adolescents and young adults.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 69.50. Here is the modified chapter for context.
Products containing or consisting of cannabinoids produced and processed for any type of consumption into a human body, whether marketed as such or not, exceeding a THC concentration 0.3 percent, may only be sold by a marijuana producer, marijuana processor, or marijuana retailer licensed by the board unless authorized as a drug by the federal food and drug administration.
The Washington State University center for cannabis policy, research, and outreach shall convene a scientific panel consisting of the following members:
An expert in pharmacology;
An expert in toxicology;
An expert with regulatory affairs experience in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or dietary supplements;
An expert in organic chemistry; and
An expert in cannabis research.
Of the members in subsection (1) of this section, at least one member must be a representative of the University of Washington and one member must be a representative of Washington State University. The member representing Washington State University shall serve as chair of the scientific panel and shall form and oversee the scientific panel.
The scientific panel shall review available research, data, and regulations of other jurisdictions related to cannabinoids including but not limited to:
Definitions of the term impairing in relation to a cannabinoid, as well as definitions of artificial and synthetically derived cannabinoids; and
Recommendations on potential guidelines for safe methods of manufacturing, extracting, and synthesizing cannabinoids.
The panel shall compile findings and make recommendations to the legislature regarding regulating cannabinoids in the adult use cannabis market, by December 1, 2022.
This section expires January 1, 2023.
This section adds a new section to an existing chapter 69.50. Here is the modified chapter for context.
When funded, the department of health shall establish a grant program to assist local government health departments with enforcing and ensuring compliance with section 4 of this act. Local government health departments and agencies may apply for grants, when funded under this section.
Each grant applicant shall:
Show a significant problem of the sale in the jurisdiction of products in violation of section 4 of this act by businesses not licensed by the board as cannabis producers, processors, or retailers;
Verify that grant awards are sufficient to cover increased costs associated with undertaking enforcement and compliance activities related to section 4 of this act;
Design an enforcement and compliance program that best suits the specific problems in the jurisdiction related to violations of section 4 of this act;
Demonstrate community coordination focusing on prevention, intervention, and suppression of violations of section 4 of this act; and
Collect data on performance.
The cost of administering the grants shall not exceed $60,000, or three percent of appropriated funding, whichever is greater.
Grant awards may not be used to supplant preexisting funding sources for special enforcement targeting enforcement of laws that prohibit the sale of products identified in section 4 of this act.
If specific funding for the purposes of sections 5 and 6 of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2022, in the omnibus appropriations act, sections 5 and 6 of this act are null and void.
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.