Find Posts By Topic

Update: OED Seeks Academic Institution to Research Equity in Seattle’s Cannabis Industry

We relaunched the Request for Proposal process to find academic institutions to study the current state of Seattle’s cannabis industry. Our goal is to conduct an industry analysis and determine what professional development opportunities cannabis industry workers need. We have extended the deadline, and responses are due Friday, October 18. Details can be found in the Cannabis Industry Needs Assessment Request for Proposals.

We are continually working to build an inclusive economy in Seattle, where people across the city, particularly those from historically excluded communities, have access to career paths and business ownership opportunities. This is important for long-standing industries, as well as newer industries like the cannabis industry.

People passing a cannabis shop sign in Downtown.

Initiative 502, passed by voters in 2012, legalized recreational use of cannabis, as well as retail sales of cannabis products. In the years since legalization, data collected by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has confirmed racial disparities in business ownership in this cannabis retail sector. Contributing factors to these disparities include barriers to entry like access to capital and technical expertise.

Recognizing the opportunities to improve the current system, in 2022, the City of Seattle passed a suite of legislation to foster a more diverse industry. While cannabis licenses are regulated and distributed at the state level, these bills allow the City to take tangible, research-driven steps to improve fairness and opportunity in the industry both now and as additional licenses are awarded.

This RFP will analyze the impacts City land use policies have on new cannabis businesses and complete a comparative financial and market analysis. We also want to determine what professional development opportunities cannabis industry workers need. The proposals should examine what opportunities for career advancement in this field exist, and what opportunities we could create to ensure broader access.

Proposals should outline a needs assessment in two areas: 1) industry analysis and 2) determining the professional advancement needs of workers across the industry. Only one proposal will be selected. Organizations may submit joint proposals, meaning two or more organizations may submit a collaborative proposal. The academic institution must be the prime contractor. The budget for this project is up to $160,000 and the contract will run through April 2025.

This investment is part of the community-driven Future of Seattle Economy framework to support growing businesses and key industries.

Proposals are due by 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, October 18, via email to oed@seattle.gov. Submissions must be sent in Adobe PDF format and include a cover sheet, project proposal, and project budget.