We are proud to advocate on behalf of a legal, quality-controlled and well-regulated taxed cannabis marketplace that keeps products out of the hands of children. Following President Trump's Executive Order "Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research," WACA distributed a press release marking the historic milestone in upholding a safe, regulated marketplace for cannabis that keeps products out of the hands of children. In the press release, WACA Executive Director Vicki Christophersen said:

"The Washington CannaBusiness Association offers its congratulations to the regulated cannabis industry whose advocacy for a safe, quality-controlled marketplace has led to the reclassification of cannabis to a Schedule III drug at the federal level. Since the historic passage of Initiative 502 by Washington State voters, there has been more than a decade of inaction by the federal government to acknowledge the failures of prohibition, the role of a responsible, legal marketplace and the demand of state voters across the country to take a new approach on cannabis. We thank President Trump for taking historic action that acknowledges the responsible role of a viable legal cannabis marketplace made up of legal businesses that just want operate under the same expectations as their peers in other similarly regulated industries. Coupled with the U.S. Congress’s vote last month to close the loophole that led to an explosive growth in the illicit hemp-derived THC market, it is hard to imagine a more consequential month in the work to pursue a safer approach to cannabis since November 2012."

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business published a deep dive into the state of the legal cannabis industry last month and featured WACA leadership sharing insights, including two board members. “'The failure rate among cannabis businesses has been pretty dramatic,' Vicki Christophersen, executive director of the Washington Cannabusiness Association (WACA), told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. 'It has been very turbulent.' We encourage you to read the whole thing!

Cannabis policymaking continues to feature critical conversations, including the importance of keeping cannabis products out of the hands of kids. In Washington, licensed retailers have a 95% compliance rate, which means they are significantly more successful in blocking youth access than liquor and tobacco retailers. Ongoing academic research also reflects evidence that youth access is flat or declining in legal markets. We wish everyone a restful holiday season and look forward to the new year!

The emerging, regulated cannabis and hemp industries are still misunderstood by some. WACA works tirelessly to ensure its members acknowledge and embrace their responsibility to follow the law, earn public trust, and collaborate to strengthen the system that protects consumers and communities alike. As we reflect on the first 10 years of legalization and prepare for the next 10 years, we are proud to advocate on behalf of a regulated marketplace that directly employs 11,330 workers, supports 18,360 jobs in our state and in 2020 generated $660.8 million in state and local tax revenues for public services.

Interested in learning more about the economic impact of the legal cannabis marketplace in Washington? Please reach out to us to receive a copy of our Economic Impact Analysis commissioned by WACA in 2021 and conducted by Dr. Spencer Cohen of High Peak Strategy.