Three sessions will use deliberative dialogue to discuss issues related to new state quality assurance testing of cannabis.
What is deliberative dialogue?
In short, deliberative dialogue is a method of structured conversation that seeks to find increased understanding of all sides and perspectives of an issue. It seeks to discover the most important values that participants have about the topics being discussed and to build relationships among participants. Listening with empathy and ensuring equity among participants is foundational. Deliberative dialogue brings up and discusses the consequences, costs and trade-offs of various policy options, and working through the emotions and values as a necessary part of making recommendations and decisions, common ground can be established as decisions are made.
Deliberative dialogue can be helpful when used between Government and stakeholders and community members. WSLCB is charged with ensuring the safety of Washington state residents. WSLCB works with the public and licensees on key decisions that affect the safety of Washingtonians, and the agency has a central role in creating regulatory frameworks to support that work. WSLCB believes that Washingtonians have the capacity to be well informed just as experts have the capacity to better appreciate the concerns of the public. Both expert knowledge and the perspectives of the public are crucial to the formulation of wise policy. For more on deliberative dialogue click here.
How are the sessions formatted?
Each session is scheduled for three hours.
- A panel will be scheduled for each session, comprised of:
- Panel 1: Consumers (4 – 5 panelists; consumers, health care reps, and others)
- Panel 2: Processors (5- 6 panelists; processors/producers from all tiers, indoor/outdoor growers, minority-owned business, and differing regions in state)
- Panel 3: Labs (4 – 5 panelists, consisting of lab owners, employees, or both).
- The moderator will open each forum with topic background, panel introduction, and ground rules.
- Panelists may give a five minute opening statement covering their background, their interest and experience on the topic, and ideas or thoughts they’d like to talk about.
- Questions sent in from the panelist recruitment will be posed to the panel members.
- The rest of the meeting will be interactive (using the hand-raising feature in WebEx) to allow participants and listeners to pose questions to the panel.
How are Panelists Selected?
WSLCB began panel recruitment on January 6, 2021. We asked for those interested in being a panelist, participant or listener to contact us by close of business, or 5PM on January 20, 2021. We continue to need panelists. You can view the announcement and apply here.
How can I listen or participate in Deliberative Dialogue at WSLCB?
Sign up as a non-panelist participant or listener for:
- January 28, 2021 Consumer Perspectives Forum (1:30 – 4:30) please register with WebEx.
- February 4, 2021 Processor/Producer Perspectives Forum (1:30 – 4:30), please register with WebEx.
- February 11, 2021 Accredited Lab Perspectives Forum (1:30 – 4:30), please register with WebEx.
Questions? Contact rules@lcb.wa.gov.
