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

Public Hearings for rulemaking – New Schedule

Public hearings for rulemaking will no longer be scheduled during Board meetings. Scheduled public hearings will generally be held on Thursday mornings unless there is a conflict that requires re-scheduling. Public hearings are scheduled with the filing of a CR-102 with proposed rules and will comply with RCW 34.05.320 which requires “at least twenty days” after the CR-102 has been published in the state register. 

The LCB is in the process of creating a new webpage dedicated to rulemaking public hearings. The new webpage will include links to attend public hearings virtually and details on any currently scheduled public hearings. To register to provide comments during upcoming public hearings, please email us at publichearings@lcb.wa.gov.

Format for Public Hearings

Public hearings related to Liquor and Cannabis Board rulemaking activity will be held in a "hybrid" environment. This means that the public will have options for in-person or virtual attendance and for providing verbal comments during public hearings for rulemaking. A meeting room will be set up at LCB headquarters building in Olympia (1025 Union Avenue, Olympia, WA 98504) for in-person attendance and the public may also login using a computer or a device, or call-in using a phone, to listen to the meeting through the Microsoft Teams application. Please note that although the meeting room will be staffed during the hearing, agency staff may appear virtually.

The LCB encourages those who would like to provide public comment during public hearings to register in advance. Those who have not registered by 10 a.m. on the hearing date, or who arrive after the hearing has started, cannot be guaranteed the opportunity to speak. 

For questions about providing verbal comments at rules public hearings, and to register in advance to provide verbal comments, please email LCB at publichearings@lcb.wa.gov. 

Next Public Hearing:

Thursday June 5, 10 am: Supplemental CR 102 (proposed rulemaking) to allow minors on non-retail cannabis premises 

• Link to materials and see below for more information including how to pre-register for providing comments at the hearing and the TEAMS link to join hearing on-line. 

Recent Rulemaking Activities

• Wednesday, May 7, 2025:
  • The Board approved a CR 101 (preproposal statement of inquiry) to implement 2SHB 1515 related to expanded outdoor alcohol service.
    • Link to materials
       
  • The Board accepted a Petition for Rulemaking requesting amendments to Title 314 WAC related to cannabis testing terminology.
    • Board response to petition to amend Title 314 WAC
       
• Wednesday, April 23, 2025:
  • The Board approved a CR 103 (final rules) to implement 2SHB 2151 (Transfer of authority for accreditation of cannabis testing labs):
    • Link to materials
       
  • The Board approved a Supplemental CR 102 (proposed rulemaking) to allow minors on non-retail cannabis premises:
    • Link to materials
    • Public Hearing on proposed rulemaking is June 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. (PST)
      • In-person attendees:
        • Meeting room at LCB headquarters building in Olympia (1025 Union Avenue, Olympia, WA 98504)
      • Virtual attendees:
        • Register to provide verbal comments by emailing publichearings@lcb.wa.gov prior to hearing.
        • To Join Meeting via Microsoft Teams use the following link:  Join the meeting now
        • (Meeting ID: 244 141 551 603 2, Passcode: M3P8SE9X) 
           
• The Board approved a CR 101 (preproposal statement of inquiry) to consider amending WAC 314-02-045 to allow seasonal operation for beer and/or wine restaurants.
  • Link to materials
     
• The Board denied two Petitions for Rulemaking to amend WAC 314-55-095 and WAC 314-55-105 related to packaging of cannabis.
  • Board Response to amend WAC 314-55-095
  • Board Response to amend WAC 314-55-105
     
• The Board denied a Petition for Rulemaking on RCW 66.24.395.
  • Petition for Rulemaking
  • Board Response
     
• 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)
    • Link to materials
  • The Board denied a petition for rulemaking submitted on the Social Equity in Cannabis program.
    • Petition for Rulemaking
    • Board Response
       
• 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.