5080-S2.E AMH CHAM CLOD 256

E2SSB 5080 - H AMD TO RSG COMM AMD (H-1688.3/23) 638

By Representative Chambers

NOT ADOPTED 04/10/2023

On page 9, beginning on line 27 of the striking amendment, after

"subsection," strike "beginning January 1, 2024, and until July 1, 2032, the board may issue up to 52 cannabis retailer licenses for the social equity program" and insert "beginning July 1, 2026, and until July 1, 2032, the board may issue up to 52 cannabis retailer licenses for the social equity program, so long as the cannabis retailer licenses are issued on a time frame consistent with the recommendation in the report required under section 7 of this act. The board shall issue or reissue all cannabis retailer licenses under (a) of this subsection (1) that are available on the effective date of this section before the board issues cannabis retailer licenses under (d) of this this subsection (1)"

On page 27, line 33 of the striking amendment, after "(2)" insert "The joint legislative audit and review committee must examine the retail cannabis market including the total number of licensed cannabis retailers, the distribution of licensed cannabis retailers throughout the state, and the impact on the cannabis market of the issuance and reissuance of cannabis retailer licenses through the cannabis social equity program's licensing application window that is open from March 1, 2023, through April 27, 2023. The joint legislative audit and review committee must include a recommendation on the timing of the issuance of the up to 52 new cannabis retailer licenses authorized to be issued in the cannabis social equity program under RCW 69.50.335(1)(d), to ensure the issuance of the new cannabis retailer licenses beginning July 1, 2026, is consistent with market growth, demand, and capacity.

(3)"

On page 27, line 34 of the striking amendment, after "results of" strike "their review" and insert "the review, examinations, and recommendation required under this section"

EFFECT: Requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to examine the retail cannabis market, including the total number of licensed cannabis retailers, the distribution of licensed cannabis retailers throughout the state, and the impact on the cannabis market of the issuance and reissuance of cannabis retailer licenses through the current licensing application window open from March 1, 2023, through April 27, 2023, in the Cannabis Social Equity Program (Program). Requires JLARC to include a recommendation on the timing of the issuance of the separate new 52 new cannabis retailer licenses proposed for the Program, to ensure the issuance of the licenses is consistent with market growth, demand, and capacity. Specifies that the up to 52 new cannabis retailer licenses may be issued beginning July 1, 2026, instead of beginning January 1, 2024, and must be issued on a time frame consistent with the recommendation in the JLARC report that is due June 30, 2025. Specifies that the 52 new cannabis retailer licenses may not be issued until all of the cannabis retailer licenses available for issuance or reissuance in the Program's current licensing application window open from March 1, 2023, through April 27, 2023, are issued or reissued.

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