Today, we have some very good news to share.
This morning, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board voted unanimously to accept The Cannabis Alliance’s petition for rulemaking on medical cannabis verification, despite an initial staff recommendation that the Board deny it.
That happened because you showed up. Board members specifically acknowledged the written comments they received and the time they spent reviewing them before making their decision. To everyone who wrote to the Board, shared information, helped us develop this effort, or encouraged others to participate: thank you!
As federal cannabis policy evolves toward Schedule III, Washington businesses may need to demonstrate their participation in our state-authorized medical cannabis system when seeking federal registration or other opportunities and protections. Our petition asks Washington to create a clear process for providing that verification. Today’s vote starts the rulemaking that can create it.
This is one part of a broader strategy. We are continuing related work with the Washington State Department of Health and developing a comprehensive legislative approach for the 2027 session to make sure Washington is prepared as federal policy changes.
Our job now is to make sure this work doesn’t stall. Rulemaking can take time, and the Board itself acknowledged today that priorities shift and agency resources are limited.
This is the kind of work The Cannabis Alliance does every day: identifying regulatory gaps, developing solutions, organizing our community, engaging with agencies and lawmakers, and making sure the people affected by government decisions have a voice in them.
If you believe in this work, we need your support. Donations to The Cannabis Alliance make the research, policy development, organizing, agency engagement, and advocacy behind wins like this possible, and they allow us to stay engaged for the long haul: through rulemaking, through the legislative process, and wherever federal policy takes us next.
We asked the state to take this issue seriously. You helped us make the case. And today, all three members of the Board said yes.
Thank you for being part of this work.