On May 2, 2018, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) adopted new rules regarding packaging and labeling of cannabis infused products. In order to lessen the impact to licensees, a phase-in approach was used with the adoption of Board Interim Policy BIP-05-2018 giving licensees until January 1, 2019 to become compliant. Due to feedback received about both the January 1, 2019 deadline and the cannabis infused edible product review, staff will bring a proposal before the Board to amend the interim policy date for full compliance to June 1, 2019. The Board will review the proposal at their October 31, 2018 meeting.
Some industry members expressed concerns following a cannabis-infused candy presentation at the regularly scheduled Board meeting. A message was sent soon after clarifying the agency’s process for product and label review. Since the announcement, agency staff have had additional conversations with industry members and industry trade organizations that requested the LCB halt its product review and allow time for stakeholders to be heard. Specifically, a coalition of CORE, the Cannabis Alliance and Washington Cannabusiness Association together formally wrote the LCB requesting the same.
The agency agreed to halt the product review for 30 days and announced during that time will accept input from licensees and trade organizations regarding alternatives for the agency to consider. Coalition members have indicated that they will be meeting later this month to discuss their proposal(s) and will present them to the agency. We will communicate the outcome of these discussions by Nov. 12, 2018.
The LCB will continue to accept label, package and product submissions prior to the newly proposed deadline. If you have infused edible products that are not presently being discussed for compliance, please submit them to labelapproval@lcb.wa.gov using the new requirements.