2023 was a quiet session for cannabis legislation, with one notable exception related to the Social Equity in Cannabis program. The program will be expanded in 2023 with the passage of SB 5080, including the addition of new retail licenses.

Between January 1, 2024, and July 1, 2032, the Liquor Cannabis Board (LCB) is authorized per SB 5080 to issue up to 52 new cannabis retailer social equity licenses. Additionally, the LCB may issue up to 100 new cannabis processor licenses immediately. These retailer and processor licenses may only be issued in areas where they are not prohibited by local ordinance. AWC consistently advocated to ensure cities with moratoriums or bans in place will not see any new licenses issued in their city as a result of this legislation. In addition to this protection, the LCB is further required by SB 5080 to ensure geographic disbursement in new equity licenses issued and allow an opportunity for the local government to object to issuance of a new license.

Another bill, HB 1650, would have prevented cities from prohibiting cannabis retail businesses after July 1, 2027 unless a majority of voters in the city voted in a general election after July 2023 to approve an ordinance prohibiting cannabis retailers. AWC successfully advocated against this bill to protect the roughly 80 cities that have some form of prohibition on cannabis retail businesses. This issue had seemed relatively settled for a few years now, but AWC anticipates it could come back again in the future.

A final bill of note, SB 5363, would have transferred regulation of signage on cannabis businesses from the LCB to cities, similar to sign codes in place for non-cannabis businesses. This bill also did not pass.

AWC will continue to monitor cannabis legislation and advocate to protect local control for cannabis regulation.

SB 5123 prohibits preemployment testing for cannabis except for first responders and some other safety-sensitive positions.