
This is a comprehensive state-by-state guide on available government supported social equity resources.
ALASKA
Supports expungement
CALIFORNIA
Authorizes the Bureau of Cannabis Control to provide technical assistance, grant funding to local equity programs and report to the Legislature about local social equity program progress
CALIFORNIA (LONG BEACH)
The Cannabis Social Equity Program requires adult-use cannabis businesses to hire Equity Employees for at least 40% of the total annual work hours performed, all adult-use cannabis businesses must submit a Community Reinvestment and Small Business Incubation Plan describing how they intend to support equity business owners, assistance to equity business owners including expedited application review, compliance assistance, tax deferrals for cultivators, expedited building plan check and fee waivers
CALIFORNIA (LOS ANGELES)
Creates priority licensing for social equity applicants, technical assistance with application submission, fee reductions, and waivers
CALIFORNIA (OAKLAND)
Sets aside half of the dispensary licenses for social equity applicants, creates an application fee waiver and an Equity Assistance Program including technical assistance and no interest loans for social equity applicants, gives general applicants the opportunity to be social equity incubators in order to receive permitting priority
CALIFORNIA (SACREMENTO)
Establishes zero application fees for social equity applicants, creates an incubator program for cannabis businesses to obtain priority processing after agreeing to support a social equity applicant
CALIFORNIA (SAN FRANCISCO)
Established a fee waiver for social equity applicants and an incubation partnership program providing free rent for 3 years or technical assistance to social equity businesses
COLORADO
NONE
COLORADO (DENVER)
Created free program clearing and sealing certain cannabis convictions, dedicated cannabis tax revenue to community reinvestment including housing, youth programs, and a recreation center
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Establishes tax revenue reinvestment, creates job opportunities for residents most affected by prohibition and automatic record sealing within one year for most offences
FLORIDA
Establishes a requirement for strong diversity plans to gain medical treatment center licensure and involvement of minorities and/or veterans in the ownership, management and employment of the medical cannabis treatment centers
ILLINOIS
Creates priority licensing for social equity applicants, reduced application fees and a loan program as well as incentives for companies to offer financial support and/or incubation support to social equity applicants and businesses
MAINE
NONE
MARYLAND
Prioritizes licensing for disadvantaged groups and diversity, social and economic equity factors into account when scoring license applications, and training and assistance to small, minority and women business owners and entrepreneurs
MASSACHUSETTS
Establishes priority review for economic empowerment social equity candidates as well as support including management, recruitment and employee trainings, business plan creation and operational development, accounting and sales forecasting, tax predication and legal compliance, best practices for the industry and raising capital or funds
MICHIGAN
Provides education and outreach to disproportionately impacted communities and establishes social equity partnerships to connect with business and technical resources for obtaining a career in the cannabis industry or a license to operate a cannabis business
Michigan (Detroit)
Detroit Recreational Marijuana Ordinance
Medical Marijuana Facilities and Adult-Use Marijuana Establishments ordinance authorizing the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) to issue business licenses for co-location, and adult-use marijuana establishments including grower, processor, retailer, secure transporter, safety compliance facility, microbusiness, marijuana event organizer, temporary marijuana event, and designated consumption establishments. This ordinance also requires that:
- Detroit Legacy applicants will get a minimum of 50% of all newly created recreational marijuana business licenses for retailers, growers, processors, microbusinesses, designated consumption, and marijuana event organizers issued in Detroit.
- There will be a six-week exclusive early licensing period for Detroit Legacy applicants.
- Detroit Legacy will be able to purchase city-owned land at 25% of fair market value.
- The City will work with philanthropy and private lenders to develop sources of funding and expertise to back Detroit-owned marijuana business start-ups.
- Application details and requirements
NEVADA
NO SOCIAL EQUITY PROVISIONS
OHIO
15% of medical licenses to economically disadvantaged groups
OREGON (PORTLAND)
Reduced fees for cannabis companies working with small businesses or businesses owned by minorities, veterans or women, grant established funded by cannabis tax to assist those disproportionately impacted business owners as well as expungement, workforce development and housing re-entry services
PENNSYLVANIA
Established need for medical marijuana program policies to ensure equal opportunity for diverse groups in permitting & equitable access for diverse groups to enter the workforce, calls for the Department of Health to provide outreach to diverse groups, encourages applicants to work with diverse groups and requires a diversity plan for licensing that is responsible for 10% of the total points
VERMONT
NO SOCIAL EQUITY PROVISIONS
WASHINGTON
NO SOCIAL EQUITY PROVISIONS