Emerald City Collective Gardens
(ECCG)

Members of the public expressed dissatisfaction over the company picked to process social equity grants, adjudication of a patient cooperative dispute, and new cannabis education offerings.

Staff said goodbye to two retiring division heads and heard several critical public comments before the chair gave a lengthy defense of the agency's continued work on social equity.

Agency leaders met the new Director of Legislative Relations then heard reports on their legislative agenda, social equity, medical endorsements, hiring, work groups, and CCRS.

Board members denied a petition on use of customer ID data, rescinded an interim traceability policy, and heard public comments about the promised social equity retail program.

Just as social equity rulemaking at WSLCB was concluded, a report alleging abusive behavior by a former task force leader reinvigorated lingering public skepticism over agency progress.

A new tribal compact was signed, several rulemaking projects were underway though one was withdrawn, and a hearing on social equity plus public comments elicited a range of opinions.

After largely encouraging public comments for three city ordinances on cannabis labor and equity policies, the council adopted all the measures and promised more action in the future.

Opinions differed on an ordinance requiring a “cannabis needs assessment” on industry equity, but other measures on city equity licenses and worker retention were less controversial.

After opening two rulemaking projects and accepting four of five petitions for cannabis rulemaking, board members then heard complaints and compliments in public comment.

The committee reviewed background and amendments on multiple cannabis bills targeting worker retention and training; creation of a city social equity license; and a “Cannabis Needs Assessment.”