Additional Provisions

1. Time Restrictions

A cannabis retailer's license is subject to forfeiture. The WSCLB will adopt rules to establish a license forfeiture process for a licensed cannabis retailer that is not fully operational and open to the public within a specified time period from the date of license issuance, as established by the board, subject to the following restrictions:

  • No cannabis retailer's license may be subject to forfeiture within the first nine months of license issuance; and

  • WSLCB must require license forfeiture on or before twenty-four calendar months of license issuance if a cannabis retailer is not fully operational and open to the public, unless the board determines that circumstances out of the licensee's control are preventing the licensee from becoming fully operational and that, in the board's discretion, the circumstances warrant extending the forfeiture period beyond twenty-four calendar months.

There are no time restrictions for social equity applicants to select and secure a location.

2. Ownership Changes

Social equity applicants may not make ownership changes after the application has been reviewed, scored and prioritized by the social equity contractor.

3. Application Restrictions

Social equity applicants may apply for a social equity license only one time during an application window. If an applicant applies more than once during an application window, only the first application that was submitted by the applicant will be accepted for review by the social equity contractor.

4. Application Withdrawal

The WSLCB will withdraw a social equity application in the following circumstances:

  • Social equity applicant(s) requests withdrawal of the social equity program application at any time in the application process. The social equity applicant(s) must request withdrawal in writing to the WSLCB, with a copy to the social equity contractor. The voluntary withdrawal of a social equity application does not give the applicant a right to an administrative hearing. At an administrative hearing, the parties must provide facts, evidence and arguments in support of a particular resolution to an administrative law judge.

5. License Mobility

Social equity licenses that are currently designated to specific cities may be located anywhere within the county in which the city is located. The license may not be transferred outside of that county.

6. Cannabis Business License Approval

Qualifying to participate in the Social Equity in Cannabis Program will not guarantee cannabis business license approval. As previously indicated, if the social equity applicant meets all of the social equity eligibility requirements, their participation in the Program will depend on their application score and ranking by the social equity contractor.

7. License Transfer and Assumption

Social equity licenses may not be transferred or assumed within the first year of the license being issued. Licenses may only be transferred to or assumed by individuals or groups of individuals who meet the definition of a social equity applicant for a period of five years from the approval date of the initial license.

8. Social Equity Title Certificate Holders

Social equity title certificate holders that meet the requirements of a social equity program applicant as determined by the social equity contractor may reinstate their retail cannabis license anywhere within the county that they hold their title certificate.