Washington State’s Bill to Allow Marijuana Sales Across State Lines Is Officially on Its Way to The Governor’s Desk.

The governor will soon get a law allowing the interstate sale of marijuana in Washington State.

Sen. Ann Rivers’ (R) measure was approved by the Senate on Wednesday, but the House also adopted a small adjustment that needed the support of the Senate.

As a result of that happening on Friday, the law is now headed for Gov. Jay Inslee’s (D) approval.

In the absence of a federal policy change permitting the interstate movement of cannabis or a federal Justice Department opinion permitting or tolerating marijuana commerce across state boundaries, the bill would permit the governor to reach an agreement with other states that have legalized the drug.

All three of the Western coastline states would be prepared to permit cannabis imports and exports if Inslee approves the proposal into law. Oregon was the first state to make the change in 2019, and California did so the year before.

According to the Washington law, state regulators must notify the public in writing of any changes to state law that are required to permit the sale, delivery, and receipt of cannabis from out-of-state businesses if either of the two federal requirements is satisfied.

Contrary to federal concerns, the implementation might also be started under California’s policy by the state attorney general. State regulators asked Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) to draft the guidance in January.

Regulators in Washington would also need to enact the regulations required for marijuana exports and imports. However, the governor would be the only one with the power to sign agreements with other states.

It would be necessary for goods imported from out-of-state companies to adhere to Washington rules, including those governing packaging and labeling.

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Burl Bryson, executive director of the Cannabis Alliance, which collaborated with Alliance for Sensible Markets, Washington Sun, and Craft Growers Association on the legislature, told Marijuana Moment on Friday that Washington producers, who can compete with anyone on price and quality, suffer from a lack of market access.

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While there are developing medical and adult use markets across the country, he said, cannabis is more challenging to grow and more expensive to produce. This bill has the state ready to take part as soon as trade across legitimate marketplaces becomes feasible, which, in our opinion, won’t be too long from now.

On the other side of the nation, the Senate President of New Jersey submitted a comparable interstate proposal last year, although it hasn’t been implemented yet.

A federal appellate court determined that Maine’s legislation banning non-residents from owning medicinal marijuana businesses in the state was unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution also last year. According to some analysts, state-level prohibitions on marijuana import and export operate under the same justification that renders the residency restrictions illegal.

The argument argues that banning medicinal cannabis exports and imports between states that have consented to it would be similarly protectionist and unconstitutional.

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The state’s present ban on cannabis exports and imports to and from other states, according to a complaint filed in November by an Oregon marijuana business in federal court, is unconstitutional.

While psilocybin research was recently approved by Washington lawmakers in both chambers, the versions still need to be reconciled because the House introduced an amendment allowing for a pilot program to provide access to the psychedelic for clinical investigations.

Another bill to outlaw marijuana usage as a basis for hiring decisions has also passed both chambers; however, on Friday, the Senate refused to agree to House amendments and urged the other chamber to drop the changes.