Amended on the House floor, a bill promoting social equity in the cannabis industry was voted out of the House and now moves to the Senate for hearings.
HB 2870 establishes a Marijuana Social Equity Program that authorizes the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to issue previously forfeited, cancelled, and revoked marijuana retailer licenses to applicants disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of marijuana prohibition laws.
The amended bill establishes a Technical Assistance Competitive Grant Program under the Department of Commerce to provide technical assistance grants to marijuana retail license applicants that submit a Social Equity Plan.
Additionally, the bill establishes a Marijuana Social Equity Task Force to make recommendations to the LCB, including to establish and develop the program. HB 2870 requires the task force to submit a report of recommended policies to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2020, which must include a recommendation on whether to issue new marijuana licenses.
For cities, the most notable amendment made on the floor was the removal of a requirement that local governments provide approval for mentoring and support activities for applications of the grant program.
AWC is neutral on this bill.
Dates to remember
HB 2870 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee at 8 am on Tuesday, February 25.