LCB rules team outlines cannabis and alcohol rulemaking priorities ahead of 2027 session

Policy and rules manager Kevin Walder briefed the board on the status of multiple rulemaking projects across cannabis and alcohol.

Walder said the public comment period recently closed on draft rules implementing engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5403 (which limits financial interest agreements for cannabis retailers) and staff are evaluating feedback prior to an economic analysis that could take up to three months. He said stakeholder sessions for House Bill 1941 (agricultural cannabis producer cooperatives) revealed confusion on additional processor privileges for cooperative members and that draft revisions are planned.

Walder said drafting resumed on the cannabis R&D testing and samples rulemaking and that long‑standing petition‑driven projects (cannabis batch tracking and transportation) remain at early phases because of limited capacity. On alcohol rules, staff completed required analyses for retail product placement and plan to file documents for board review at next month's meeting. He also noted eight petitions would be presented to the board that day for consideration.