SB 5758, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), aims to modify cannabis business licensing distance requirements for social equity license holders.

As written, this bill would prohibit a city, town, or county from restricting the retail premises of a social equity cannabis licensee from locating more than 250 feet from the premises of any other cannabis retail operations.

Currently, cannabis businesses cannot be located with 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, parks, daycares, transit centers, libraries, etc. This bill also proposes allowing specifically cannabis social equity licensees to locate within 500 feet of those locations (except for schools and playgrounds). Additionally, local governments could decide to further reduce that buffer through local ordinance.

Notably, other cannabis license holders (not part of the social equity plan) would still be required to maintain the current 1,000 feet threshold. The bill still allows cities the existing ability to object to new cannabis facilities and strengthens local governments’ ability to object based on factors such as chronic illegal activity, crime rates, and safety risks.

Dates to remember

SB 5758 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Tuesday, February 18 at 10:30 am.

SB 5758 is scheduled for committee vote in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Friday, February 21 at 8 am.