Laws and Rules
What We Do
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) is granted authority by the Washington State Legislature to regulate the production, sale, and distribution of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and vapor products in the state of Washington. Through rulemaking, we support the agency's mission to promote public safety and trust through fair administration and enforcement of liquor, cannabis, tobacco, and vapor laws. Our rules impact licensees, the public, and stakeholders, including businesses like grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and cannabis retail outlets, as well as breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cannabis producers and processors, just to name a few. Our licensing division and enforcement and education division implement and enforce our rules.
We are committed to transparency, accountability, equity, and inclusion in rulemaking. Sign up for email updates about rulemaking activities and opportunities for public engagement (link). We offer many opportunities for the public to participate in policy and rule development! Learn how the rulemaking process works and ways to engage with us (link).
News, Updates, and Events
Recent
- The Board received a Petition for Rulemaking requesting that LCB amend current regulations to allow permanent resident cards (Green Cards) as acceptable forms of identification for the purchase of cannabis and alcohol. The Board has until April 20, 2025, to respond.
- The Board received a Petition for Rulemaking on RCW 66.24.395. The Board has until April 27, 2025, to respond.
- The Board received a Petition for Rulemaking requesting amendments to WAC 314-55-105. The Board has until April 28, 2025, to respond.
- The Board received a Petition for Rulemaking requesting amendments to WAC 314-55-095. The Board has until April 28, 2025, to respond.
- Wednesday, February 26, 2025:
- The Board approved a CR 102 (proposed rulemaking) to implement 2SHB 2151 (Transfer of authority for accreditation of cannabis testing labs)
- The Board denied a petition for rulemaking submitted on the Social Equity in Cannabis program.
- Monday, Feb. 3 and Thursday, Feb. 6: 2SHB 2151 (Transfer of authority for accreditation of cannabis testing labs)
- Information about Stakeholder Engagement Sessions and draft rules
- Monday Feb. 3, Correct time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and Thursday Feb. 6, 1-3 p.m.
For older materials, see Current Rulemaking Activity.
January 2025 Updates
- Wednesday, January 29, 2025:
- The Board denied a petition for rulemaking to allocate funding from cannabis revenue to support a trauma-informed counseling and research initiative.
- The Board denied a petition for rulemaking to allow wineries, breweries and distilleries to sample, serve and sell bottles of their own production at public events.
- The Board denied a petition for rulemaking to allow wineries, breweries, distilleries and alcohol retailers to sell spirits, beer, and wine by individual servings for on-premise consumption and for the sale of unopened containers for off-premise consumption at public events.
- Wednesday, January 29, 2025:
- The Board approved a supplemental CR-102 (proposed rulemaking) on Cannabis Samples. Public comment is currently open until Mar. 12, 2025.
- Wednesday, January 15, 2025:
- The Board approved a CR-101 (preproposal statement of inquiry) on Retail Alcohol Product Placement rulemaking.
- The Board approved a CR-102 (proposed rule making) to allow Minors on Non-Retail Cannabis Premises.
- The Board approved a CR-102 (proposed rule making) to implement SSB 5376 authorizing the sale of cannabis waste by licensed cannabis producers and processors to persons who are not cannabis licensees under certain conditions.
December 2024 Updates
- Wednesday, December 18, 2024:
- The Board approved a CR-103P for permanent rules on implementing House Bill 2204 on Emergency Liquor Permits. The permanent rules will be effective January 18, 2025.
- The Board approved withdrawing the CR-101 on ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) in cannabis rulemaking.
- The Board approved a CR-103P on final rules for implementing Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (E2SSB) 5080, related to expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program. The permanent rules will be effective January 18. 2025.
- The Board denied a petition for rulemaking to amend WAC 314-55-082 to address the use of captive insurance companies to insure cannabis licensees.
- Wednesday, December 4, 2024:
- The Board accepted a rulemaking petition related to WAC 314-02-045 to allow changes in hours and days of operation for certain liquor licenses.
November 2024 Updates
- Wednesday, November 20, 2024:
- The Board denied a rulemaking petition to amend WAC 314-55-115 related to cannabis payment terms.
- The Board denied a rulemaking petition regarding replacing CCRS.
- Petition Response November 20, 2024
- Petition for Rulemaking
- Cannabis Traceability (Phase 1) Project Survey - GovDelivery Notice with link to Survey. Survey runs through Dec. 31, 2024.
- LCB Seeks Feedback on Two Cannabis-Related Rulemakings prior to CR-102 filings - deadline Friday, Dec. 6, 2024:
- Wednesday, November 6, 2024:
- The Board denied a rulemaking petition regarding adding a mandatory warning to alcohol containers.
- The Board approved filing a CR-103 for permanent rules to replace gender-specific language with gender-neutral language in Title 314 WAC.
October 2024 Updates
- Wednesday, October 23, 2024:
- The Board approved filing a CR-102 on implementing House Bill 2204 on Emergency Liquor Permits. A public comment period is currently open until December 4, 2024.
- The Board approved filing a Supplemental CR-102 to implement Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (E2SSB) 5080, related to expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program. A public comment period is currently open until December 4, 2024.
- Wednesday, October 9, 2024:
- The Board approved filing a CR 103 in rulemaking to implement Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (E2SSB) 5367 (THC Bill). The rule changes will be effective January 7, 2025.
- The Board approved filing a CR 101 to consider amending WAC 314-55-035 to allow Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP)
- The Board approved filing a CR 101 to consider amending WAC 314-11-025 and WAC 314-55-150 and other sections of Title 314 WAC related to allowable types of identification.
September 2024 Updates
- Wednesday, September 25, 2024:
- The Board approved filing a CR 103 in Cannabis Payment Flexibility rulemaking to amend WAC 314-55-115 to identify how licensees can pay other licensees for cannabis using a check. The rule change will be effective October 26, 2024.
- The Board denied five petitions for rulemaking related to title certificate holders in the Social Equity in Cannabis Program
- Petition Response September 25, 2024
- Petitions
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024:
- The Board approved a petition to amend WAC 314-55-310 regarding cannabis transport.
- The Board approved filing a CR 103 on Implementing Substitute House Bill 1453 on the Medical Cannabis Patient Excise Tax Exemption. These rules will be effective October 12, 2024.