Hello, we're the Washington Cannabusiness Association (WACA).
WACA represents licensees and support businesses in the regulated cannabis sector in Washington State. As one of the first states to legalize and regulate cannabis, Washington has had ten years to develop and improve public policy for an industry that is still evolving nationwide. For ten years, WACA has been there every step of the way.
Learn more about what we do.
As we look ahead to the upcoming Legislative Session, our membership is preparing to publish WACA's 2025 Legislative & Regulatory Agenda and host our annual symposium in Seattle. 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.
A study, published in the journal Pediatric Reports, revealed that " one of the most striking results [is] the percentage of adolescents reporting current marijuana use. In 2011, 23.1% of adolescents indicated they were current users, but by 2021, this figure had dropped to 15.8%. Additionally, the percentage of adolescents trying marijuana for the first time before age 13 also saw a notable decline, from 8.1% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2021."
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.