Seattle city officials introduced three bills they said seek to enhance cannabis equity efforts.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell recently joined Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8 – Citywide) in proposing a suite of bills that advocate for a more diverse industry while supporting cannabis store workers.
“For a thriving Seattle economy, every worker and business deserve safety and the opportunity to learn, grow, and prosper,” Harrell said. “As the cannabis industry continues to develop, we must course correct and support the communities who too often have been left behind. Equity in this industry means safe working conditions and fair treatment for workers, store ownership that includes the communities most impacted by the war on drugs, and a commitment to fairness, innovation and opportunity.”
Bill provisions, per authorities, include establishing a city-level social equity license to reduce barriers toward opening cannabis stores for underrepresented communities and those impacted by the war on drugs; setting a foundation for future cannabis-related businesses, in collaboration with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board as a means of issuing licenses via a social equity framework; requiring a 90-day retention of store workforce when ownership changes; and creating a short-term cannabis advisory committee selected in conjunction with the Seattle City Council as part of an effort to collect cannabis equity feedback from workers, community members and industry leaders.
“After years of community asking for greater equity in the cannabis industry, this legislation represents an initial step in the right direction towards creating local equity applications, improving workforce standards, and focusing on safety for workers in the cannabis industry,” Mosqueda said.