Liquor and Cannabis Board - Current Law
RCW 66 & 69 & 70
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) closely regulates the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of spirits, beer, and wine, and the production, processing, and sale of recreational cannabis; licenses and regulates all businesses selling alcohol and recreational cannabis products; enforces alcohol laws with specific emphasis on over consumption and sale to minors; enforces recreational cannabis laws with specific emphasis on diversion to the black market and sale to minors; conducts statewide education and training programs to prevent the misuse of alcohol and cannabis; collects and distributes retail and distributor fees imposed on spirits, beer, and wine; collects and distributes excise taxes imposed on recreational cannabis; and enforces state laws and applicable federal statutes related to cigarettes and other tobacco products to promote voluntary compliance and increase excise tax collections.
Agency Mission
Promote public safety and trust through fair administration and enforcement of liquor, cannabis, tobacco, and vapor laws.
| Request | 155,913,000 |
|---|---|
| Net change from current biennium | (6,094,000) Decrease |
| Percent change from current biennium | (3.8%) Decrease |
Operating Budget: Summary
Appropriated Funds
| 2023-25 Appropriations | Appropriated Funds | Expenditures | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Estimated Balance | 2021-23 Actual | 2023-25 Estimated | 2025-27 Proposed | |
| 3,187,000 | General Fund - Federal | 2,233,027 | 3,187,000 | 3,226,000 | |
| 75,000 | General Fund - Private/Local | 75,000 | 75,000 | ||
| Industrial Insurance Premium Refund - Nonappropriated | 156,385 | ||||
| (882,000) | Federal Seizure Account - Nonappropriated | 119,870 | 882,000 | 882,000 | |
| Lic & Enforce Sys Modern proj acct - Nonappropriated | |||||
| Info Tech Invest Rev Acct - Nonappropriated | |||||
| 4,046,000 | General Fund - State | 1,009,276 | 4,046,000 | 3,068,000 | |
| 27,536,000 | Dedicated Cannabis Account - State | 23,772,098 | 27,536,000 | 29,386,000 | |
| Pension Funding Stabilization Acct - State | |||||
| 126,281,000 | Liquor Revolving Account - State | 87,214,343 | 126,281,000 | 119,276,000 | |
| 161,125,000 | (882,000) | Total Appropriated Funds | 114,504,999 | 162,007,000 | 155,913,000 |
Non-Appropriated Funds
Operating Budget: Program Summary
| Program Title | Actual | Estimated | Proposed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | Estimated | Estimated | Proposed | Proposed | |
| Annual Total | 67,960,342 | 65,113,493 | 29,398,104 | 83,166,000 | 72,747,000 |
Operating Budget: Change from Preceding Biennium
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent |
| 20,144,234 | 21.3% | (19,993,402) | (17.5%) | 61,401,403 | 65.0% |
Employment Summary
| Actual | Estimated | Proposed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 Actual | 2023-24 Estimated | 2024-25 Estimated | 2025-26 Proposed | 2026-27 Proposed | |
| FTE Staff Years | 345.2 | 364.1 | 381.6 | 421.6 | 404.0 |
