The bill amends Washington State's cannabis licensing laws to enhance alignment with local zoning ordinances. It prohibits the liquor and cannabis board from issuing new or renewed cannabis licenses for locations where local governments have submitted written objections based on zoning restrictions. The board is required to take these objections into account and must inform the local authority if a license is denied due to their concerns. Additionally, the bill expands the criteria for license denial to include objections from local jurisdictions and clarifies the definition of "illegal activity" that may affect licensing decisions. It also encourages cannabis licensees to submit social equity plans, providing a reimbursement mechanism for those who do.

Furthermore, the bill establishes regulations for cannabis cooperatives, mandating that all members be at least twenty-one years old, with provisions for designated providers representing qualifying patients under that age. It requires that all plants grown in the cooperative originate from licensed cannabis producers and that the cooperative's location be registered with the state liquor and cannabis board. The bill imposes restrictions on the location of cooperatives, prohibiting them from being near cannabis retailers, schools, and parks, and allows the board to deny registration if these criteria are not met. Participants in the cooperative can collectively grow a maximum of sixty plants and possess up to seventy-two ounces of usable cannabis, while also ensuring compliance through state-imposed rules for security and inspection.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 69.50.331, 69.51A.250