Craft Grows & The Future of Social Consumption (HB 1260)
House Bill 1260 was introduced in early 2021, and if passed, it will create standards for craft cannabis farms that consumers can visit and buy their weed directly from the growers.
Better still, this bill would mandate the formation of a task force on cannabis policy to review policy issues related to social consumption spaces, and home delivery of cannabis products. Unfortunately the task’s force deadlines to report their findings are in September 2022 and September 2023, respectively.
Social Equity
Social equity applicants will be prioritized in the licensing process for these new craft grows. The concept of “social equity applicants” is intended to give minorities and people who have been convicted of marijuana offenses an opportunity to profit from the industry that was built on their backs, however the proposed legal definition is more complex…
Social Equity Applicant
An applicant who has at least 51 percent ownership and control by one or more individuals who have resided for at least five the preceding 10 years in a disproportionately impacted area, or
An applicant who has at least 51 percent ownership and control by at least one individual who has been convicted of a marijuana offense or is a family member of such an individual.
Disproportionately Impacted Area
A census tract or comparable geographic area that satisfies the following criteria, which may be further defined in rule by the board after consultation with the commission on African American affairs and other agencies and stakeholders as determined by the board:
The area has a high poverty rate,
The area has a high rate of participation in income-based federal or state programs,
The area has a high rate of unemployment, and
The area has a high rate of arrest, conviction, or incarceration related to the sale, possession, use, cultivation, manufacture, or transport of marijuana
How to Take Action
Check the bill status page to see if the bill is in committee, on the house calendar, or on the senate calendar.
Committee: When the bill is scheduled for a public hearing, go to this page and register to testify remotely or submit a written testimony in favor of the bill.
House: When the bill is on the House calendar, contact your Representatives and ask them to vote in favor of this bill. Feel free to use the sample email below.
Senate: When the bill is on the Senate calendar, contact your Senators and ask them to vote in favor of this bill. Feel free to use the sample email below.
Share this page with fellow patients & users and encourage them to do the same.
Sample Email
Dear [REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR’S NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME] , a [YOUR CITY] resident and member of Patients and Users for Reasonable Policy. I’m writing to request that you support and pass HB 1260 because it represents a very important step in revitalizing Washington’s lackluster cannabis industry.
Up to this point the majority of I502 cannabis regulations were designed to favor business owners, the law enforcement establishment, and alarmists who act like there aren’t any pharmaceuticals, alcohol, laundry pods, or firearms in their households that pose a greater danger to their youth than a cannabis edible. The mission of PURP is to work with the legislature and the Liquor and Cannabis Board, and continuously remind them that the single most important stakeholder in the cannabis industry is the consumer; We are the patients and users who financially support cannabis businesses and enable the industry to be viable.
It is very rare that I come across a bill like this which accurately reflects the interests of real cannabis users, and though HB 1260 is about creating a new license and opportunities for established and aspiring I502 business owners, it has great potential to be equitable to consumers and regulators as well.
Similar to California’s “microbusiness” license that enables business owners to produce, process, sell, and allow the consumption of cannabis within a 10,000 square foot space, HB 1260 proposes a craft cannabis license that would allow social equity applicants and established I502 licensees to do the same— minus the on-site consumption... for now. Needless to say, every cannabis enthusiast in the state would jump on the opportunity to visit a craft growing facility, learn about their cultivation techniques, buy fresh products directly from the grower, and [eventually] enjoy their cannabis on-site. If you’ve ever been to a winery or a microbrewery then you can imagine how special the experience would be when we translate the concept to the regulated cannabis market.
Craft grows would be a game-changer for I502 because everything up to this point has been over-regulated to the detriment of the consumer, and the ability to visit and purchase directly from a licensed grower is infinitely more exciting than anything the black market has to offer. This should be an important consideration, as Washington's 47.1% tax rate and sub-par user experience have only emboldened black market purveyors and consumers in recent years. If we want people to support the legal industry and generate tax revenue, we must provide them with the products and services they’re willing to pay for.
Additionally, the bill would establish a task force on cannabis policy intended to consider various improvements to Washington’s cannabis industry, including social consumption spaces, home delivery, and worker-owned cooperatives. These are all things that real cannabis users want to see in Washington.
In addition to supporting HB 1260, I’d like you to please consider and hopefully suggest the following additions to the bill:
In order to maximize product freshness and help reduce overhead for craft cannabis licensees, they should have the option to sell bulk (“loose”) cannabis flower that’s stored in a large mason jar and weighed out on a scale in front of a customer. Pre-packaged weed is rarely as good as getting it fresh from a curing jar, but the option for a consumer to purchase pre-packaged cannabis should continue to exist.
Anticipating that the long overdue home grow bill will pass (HB 1019), patients and consumers alike would benefit from being able to purchase clones or seeds from craft cannabis licensees for their own personal cultivation.
Enable craft cannabis licensees to designate or repurpose existing space for use as a social consumption space [when social consumption spaces are finally legalized, well after COVID-19 has been contained].
In order to prevent over-intoxication, craft cannabis licensees should be required to offer food service (like a cafe or food truck) during business hours.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
