A bill that requires the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to issue a retail cannabis license to a municipal corporation, commission, or authority will be heard this week. Currently, the LCB is not accepting any new cannabis retail license applications. SB 5599, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Seattle), states that a municipal corporation/commission/authority will receive a cannabis retail license if:

• There are no licensed cannabis retail licensees operating either within the county or within five miles of the jurisdictional boundary of the city or town that created the municipal corporation/commission/authority; and
• The city or town that created the municipal corporation did not have a cannabis retail ban or moratorium in place in the previous 12 months before the formation of the municipal corporation.

SB 5599 also cleans up language to allow the LCB to continuously evaluate relevant data on whether more medical cannabis licensees are needed to meet the market demand.

If you have questions or concerns about this legislation, please contact Sharon Swanson.

Dates to remember

SB 5599 is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, February 4 at 10 am in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee.