WSR 17-15-133

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed July 19, 2017, 10:07 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is proposing to create new rules specific to marijuana-infused edibles (MIE) as a result of legislation recently passed during the 2017 legislative session. The rules must be written and interpreted to be consistent with rules adopted by the board and department of health.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 138, Laws of 2017.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The 2017 legislature passed SHB 1462 adding authority to the department of agriculture to regulate the sanitary processing of MIEs. The MIE legislation is effective July 23, 2017, except for section 4 which will become effective April 1, 2018. This rule making is necessary to accomplish the requirements outlined in SHB 1462.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Washington state department of health, Washington state liquor and cannabis board, Washington state department of licensing, local health jurisdictions: Food safety, cannabis and licensing officials from these organizations will be notified about the rule-making process through our rule-making advisory committee, food safety taskforce committee and outreach notifications. Washington state department of agriculture will ask members from these organizations to participate in our rule-making process.

Process for Developing New Rule: The agency is developing the rule in coordination with stakeholders.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Claudia Coles, Policy/External Affairs Advisor, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Consumer Services Division, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, email ccoles@agr.wa.gov, phone (206) 321-1124.

July 19, 2017

Dr. Candace A. Jacobs

Assistant Director

Food Safety and

Consumer Services Division