Despite early momentum, a cannabis bill seeking to make the industry more diverse and equitable died Tuesday, failing to clear the Washington House.
House Bill 2022 was derailed by amendments and significant Republican and lobbyist pushback, according to prime sponsor Rep. Emily Wicks, D-Everett. In the final moments, she said, the bill lost a great deal of its Democratic supporters before Tuesday’s key deadline to advance out of the chamber.
The bill was among a series of legislation this session aimed at increasing social equity and racial diversity in the cannabis trade with sweeping changes to the issuance and reissuance of cannabis licenses to promote business ownership among people of color.
House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, said a number of issues were raised, including in the Democratic Appropriations Caucus about how many licenses should be issued.
“I think it just takes a little bit more work with the Liquor and Cannabis Board to try to figure out how the licensing could be distributed in a way to make sure that, especially as the forfeit of licenses come into play, that they go to the social equity program,” he said. [Read more at Seattle Times]
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