In reversal, WA state permits production of cannabis gummies, hard candies

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Washington state marijuana

Washington state regulators Friday abruptly reversed a recent decision halting the production of certain marijuana edibles and will now allow infused product makers to manufacture state-approved gummies and hard candies, a spokesman for the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) told Marijuana Business Daily.

The reversal – which came after fierce industry opposition – will no doubt come as a relief to edibles companies, which feared the impact on sales from the loss of an entire product line.

Last week, the LCB ordered edibles makers to cease production of cannabis-infused gummies and hard candies, warning they would be barred under packaging, labeling and edible appearance regulations that take effect Jan. 1, 2019. Regulators feared the products might appeal to children.

The LCB spokesman also told MJBizDaily the agency is giving an industry coalition 30 days to draft a plan to allow gummy and hard-candy products to be sold under the impending Jan. 1 law.

Here’s what you should know:

  • Regulators said they had received complaints about some state-approved products that could appeal to children. They also said new packaging and labeling regulations prompted them to make last week’s announcement that they would re-evaluate all edible products.
  • The board’s latest decision – to allow production to resume and the industry to propose rule changes – comes after licensees pushed back against the state’s announcement last week.

The coalition that will form a proposal includes members of the Cannabis Alliance, Cannabis Organization of Retail Establishments (CORE) and Washington CannaBusiness Association.

A webinar that was scheduled next week for licensees to learn more about the rules has been postponed until November.