FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              Contact:  Brian E. Smith
                                                                                                            brian.smith@lcb.wa.gov
                                                                                                                            360-664-1774

Media Advisory

LCB Staff to Request Extension of Social Equity Application Window to April 27, 2023

OLYMPIA – The Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) today announced that staff will bring an emergency rule proposal to extend the March 30, 2023 application deadline for social equity cannabis retail licenses to April 27, 2023. Staff will propose the extension at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting on March 29, 2023.

Challenges Forming Business Entities

The Secretary of State’s Office is currently backlogged processing business entity applications. While the Office is working diligently to clear the backlog, the delay in processing impacts the timely completion of all necessary requirements for some applicants who are seeking to form a business entity.

Under current rules, applicants have 30 days to complete the application process. However, out of an abundance of caution and fairness to those applicants seeking to form a business entity, staff will propose the extension.

Should the Board choose to accept staffs’ proposal, the emergency rule will be promptly filed with the state Code Revisor’s Office and effective soon after.

More information about the Social Equity program is available on the LCB website at lcb.wa.gov.

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