SEATTLE – The Washington State Liquor Cannabis Board is considering a point system that would give people convicted of a drug-related crime and did prison time – preferential treatment when applying for retail cannabis license.
If adopted, the City of Seattle will adopt the same rules and set aside $1 million dollars in grant money to help them get started.
The potential rule for the state and ordinance for the city are part of an effort to create a social equity license for people who were adversely affected by the war on drugs.
“We recognize the disproportionality of the war on drugs on the black community,” said Brianna Thomas, Labor Relations Policy Advisor to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
Back in the early days of the war on drugs, the mere possession of a marijuana cigarette could land someone in jail or prison for months, if not years.
Times have changed.
In 2020, state lawmakers created the Washington State Legislative Task Force on Social Equity in Cannabis. Its purpose was to make recommendations to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board on the issuance of retail cannabis licenses, of which there are a limited number.
One of the recommendations was to give preferential treatment to someone who was arrested, convicted and punished for a drug related crime who may now want to make money legally selling marijuana. [Read More @ Fox13]
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