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

Upcoming

• Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025: The Board will consider a petition for rulemaking submitted on the Social Equity in Cannabis program.
  • Petition for Rulemaking

Recent

• 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.
     
• 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. 
    • Petition for Rulemaking
    • Response to Petition for Rulemaking
  • 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.
    • Petition for Rulemaking
    • Response to Petition for Rulemaking
  • 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.
    • Petition for Rulemaking
    • Response to Petition for Rulemaking
       
• 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.
    • Link to materials

• Wednesday, January 15, 2025:
  • The Board approved a CR-101 (preproposal statement of inquiry) on Retail Alcohol Product Placement rulemaking.
    • Link to materials 
  • The Board approved a CR-102 (proposed rule making) to allow Minors on Non-Retail Cannabis Premises.
    • Link to materials
  • 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. 
    • Link to materials  

For older materials, see Current Rulemaking Activity.