Engrossed Substitute House Bill 15 51, which lawmakers described in committee as addressing the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s (LCB) social equity program, drew testimony from cannabis industry stakeholders who say the bill would pause or impede issuance of social equity licenses.

Peter Manning, president of Black Excellence Cannabis, told the committee the measure functions as a “Trojan horse” that would freeze the social equity program and prevent issuance of licenses to Black and Brown applicants who have waited years to enter the regulated market. Manning said that after House amendments, the LCB indicated it would pause the program if the bill as passed remained in effect.

Caitlin Ryan, executive director of the Cannabis Alliance, said she supports thoughtful review of the social equity program but urged targeted, transparent fixes. Ryan cited LCB board comments indicating the program was “on track” but noted an operational reality: of 40 licenses issued, 32 did not yet have a physical location. She asked the committee to prioritize oversight, transparency and implementation of existing recommendations over an approach she said would effectively stall progress.

Committee staff closed testimony on HB 15 51 after calling additional names of people who had signed in; several additional individuals were invited to submit written testimony if they could not appear in person. No committee final action on HB 15 51 is recorded in the transcript; later the committee voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for this bill so the committee could consider it further the following day.