Legislation that opens the door to a future where commercial marijuana is legally transferred between states has been signed into law by Washington Governor Jay Inslee.
(Photo Credit: MJBizDaily)
Senate Bill 5069 found strong support in the legislature having passed the House of Representatives 71 to 26, and the Senate 38 to 8. The proposal was delivered to Governor Inslee on April 20, and was signed into law today.
The new law states that the governor may enter into an agreement with another state or states for
“cross-jurisdictional coordination and enforcement of cannabis-related businesses authorized to conduct business in this state, the other state, or both, and cross-jurisdictional delivery of cannabis between this state and the other state.”
Interstate agreements would be required to ensure:
- Enforceable public health and safety standards are met, and include a system to regulate and track the interstate delivery of cannabis;
- Any cannabis delivered into this state, prior to sale, is tested, packaged, and labeled in accordance with rules adopted by LCB, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and the Washington State Department of Health; and
- Applicable taxes are collected on the sale, delivery, and receipt of cannabis.
In accordance with an interstate agreement, “Washington cannabis licensees may deliver
cannabis to, and receive cannabis from, an authorized person in the other state.”
The bill takes effect “only if federal law is amended to allow for the interstate transfer of
cannabis between authorized cannabis-related businesses, or DOJ issues an opinion or
memorandum allowing or tolerating the interstate transfer of cannabis between authorized cannabis-related businesses.”
Senator Anna Rivers, the bill’s prime sponsor, has acknowledge that a change in federal law may be a ways off, but a DOJ opinion tolerating interstate travel is much more likely in the short-term.
Senate Bill 5069’s full text can be found by clicking here.
