🍄 WA considers new psychedelics program

Bills To Keep an Eye on This Legislative Session

Continuing our series from last week 👀, here’s a round-up of more interesting bills from the 2026 legislative session. First up: the inimitable Jane C. Hu is not only our podcast host, she also writes The Microdose, an independent newsletter through the U.C. Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics. Here’s Jane on the psychedelics bills being considered this session. “There are two bills that have been introduced: one that creates a state-regulated psilocybin program similar to Oregon’s, where anyone can have a guided psilocybin session, and another, drafted by a national coalition, which creates a medical psilocybin program, which would only allow people with medical diagnoses from a medical professional to access guided shrooms. A local grassroots group, REACH WA, has also drafted a bill, but it doesn’t yet have a sponsor.” [The Microdose]

• Teaching Asian American and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islander History: This bill seeks to address the increase in anti-asian hate crimes and violence through education in WA public schools. If passed, the bill would adopt these histories as part of social studies learning standards for K-12 students. Curriculum would focus on the local, regional, and national contributions of Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders in government, the arts, humanities, and sciences.
• More Neighborhood Corner Stores and Cafes: A bill that says local cities and towns must allow both restaurant cafes and corner stores in all residential areas, passed the house last week. If fully approved, it would end current bans that exist throughout the state on commercial uses in lower density neighborhoods. This means neighborhood cafes and stores, like Irwin’s in Wallingford, for example, would be allowed in any zone allowing residential uses, as long as the cafe offers food alongside alcohol and that the stores don’t sell nicotine or tobacco products. [The Urbanist]
• Age Gates and Verification Comes to WA: Last week, the legislature held a hearing for HB 2112, which creates requirements for distributors of adult content to use age verification measures like uploading an ID or credit card to view adult content online. Half of U.S. states have enacted some kind of age verification law, but the data uploaded has been extremely vulnerable to leaks and the Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that, “While they are wrapped in the legitimate concern about children's safety, [these bills] operate as tools of censorship, used to block people young and old from viewing or sharing information that the government deems ‘harmful’ or ‘offensive.’ They also create surveillance systems that critically undermine online privacy.”

Snohomish County Declares Measles Outbreak 😷

The Snohomish County Health Department declared a measles outbreak last week after confirming three new measles cases. Three infected children were exposed to a contagious family visiting from South Carolina over the holidays. The children were unvaccinated, the health department said in a press release. The measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone with measles leaves the area. [Everett Herald]

Seahawks Will Host Rams in NFC Championship 🏈

Over the long weekend, the Seattle Seahawks decimated the San Francisco 49ers and secured their spot in the NFC Championship for the first time in over a decade. They’ll now play the Los Angeles Rams at home on Sunday in the last game before the Super Bowl! [Seahawks]

Gov. Bob Ferguson Wants to Slash Climate Change Spending 🌎

Governor Ferguson’s proposed budget would redirect $569 million from the state’s quarterly auctions of pollution permits toward sales tax refunds for low-income taxpayers. Since the auctions began in 2023, the half-billion-plus they generated was dedicated to environmental spending. Republican legislators welcomed Ferguson’s proposal, while environmental groups called it an “unprecedented raid on funding for clean energy and climate.” [KUOW]

Reflecting On the Anniversary of David Lynch’s Death ☕

Last week it was somehow one year since the passing of beloved filmmaker David Lynch. City Cast contributor Chase Hutchinson wrote about Lynch’s memory, saying, “Lynch’s legacy lives on in Washington in those who worked with him, those who were partly inspired by him to work in film, and those who just appreciate the visions he made.” [Seattle Times]