Update on Cannabis Social Equity Rulemaking Timeline

Good morning,

Below is an update on the rule development process and timing for implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 5080, Social Equity in Cannabis.

At a public feedback session on May 22, 2024, the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) shared the plan to update the draft rule language proposal and post it, along with a week-long stakeholder feedback survey in early June. Feedback from the survey will be incorporated into the draft CR 102. The rule development timeline also included the plan to have the CR 102 draft rules prepared and presented to the Board at their June 18, 2024 meeting.

Based on feedback received, the complex nature of the topic, and perspectives offered, LCB needs additional time to evaluate and incorporate suggestions from all feedback received.

Therefore, the rule development timeline is being extended to allow adequate time to fully review and assess feedback received before the next rule draft is released along with a survey.

This also delays the CR 102 presentation to the Board into July 2024. In the next two to three weeks, an updated rule draft should be ready for stakeholder feedback via the planned survey. This timeline extension changes the date for presenting the CR 102 to the Board to either July 3 or 17, 2024.    

The LCB is committed to moving the Social Equity in Cannabis Program forward in a positive manner, and will be incorporating aspects of varying perspectives shared through the entire rule development process. Although not all feedback received can be adopted or included in future drafts, additional time is needed to appropriately evaluate feedback for including in the next rule draft, and eventual CR 102.

We thank you for your patience with the timeline extension.

Respectfully,

Justin Nordhorn
Director of Policy and External Affairs