This is a comprehensive state-by-state guide on available government supported social equity resources.

ALASKA

Supports expungement

SB8 (proposed)

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

SB 1294 - California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018

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

Chapter 5.90 and Chapter 5.92 of the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) / Ordinance No. 18-0015

CALIFORNIA (LOS ANGELES)

Creates priority licensing for social equity applicants, technical assistance with application submission, fee reductions, and waivers

Ordinance 185343

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

Cannabis Ordinance 5.80 and 5.80 - Ordinance No. 13504 C.M.S. 10/2/18

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

Title 5, Title 8, & Title 17

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

Article 16 of the Police Code, Article 8A and Article 33 of the Health Code, Chapter 96B, Section 10.100-162 of the Administrative Code

COLORADO

NONE

Amendment 64

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

Amendment 64, Denver Marijuana Laws (D.R.M.C. § 38-175(b), C.R.S. § 18-18-406(5)(b), C.R.S. § 25-14-204, C.R.S. § 42-4-1305.5(2)(a), D.R.M.C. § 6-307(a), D.R.M.C. § 6-206(c), D.R.M.C. § 32-28)

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

Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2019 (proposed)

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

S.8-A, Medical Use of Marijuana (Chapter 2017-232) [medical only]

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

PUBLIC HEALTH (410 ILCS 705/) Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act

MAINE

NONE

IB 2015, c. 5, “An Act to Legalize Marijuana”

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

Title 13. Miscellaneous Health Care Programs Subtitle 33—Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission [medical only]

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

Chapter 369 of the Acts of 2012, An Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana (repealed by Section 47 of Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017) Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act Chapter 55 of the Acts of 2017, An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana (which amended Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016) M.G.L. c. 94G, Regulation of the Use and Distribution of Marijuana Not Medically Prescribed M.G.L. c. 94I, Medical Use of Marijuana 935 CMR 500.000: Adult Use of Marijuana 935 CMR 501.000: Medical Use of Marijuana (this replaces former DPH regulations, 105 CMR 725.000: Implementation of an Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana) 935 CMR 502.000: Colocated Adult-Use and Medical-Use Marijuana Operations

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 Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, Administrative Rules for the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, Marihuana Tracking Act, Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act

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

Assembly Bill 533 - Cannabis Control Board (Effective Jan. 1, 2020) Assembly Bill 164 - Advertising, Penalties, Agent Cards Nevada Revised Statutes 453D Nevada Administrative Code 453D Nevada Revised Statutes 453A Nevada Administrative Code 453A

OHIO

15% of medical licenses to economically disadvantaged groups

H.B. 523, Chapter 3796 of the Ohio Revised Code [medical only]

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

PCC 14B.130

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

Act 16

VERMONT

NO SOCIAL EQUITY PROVISIONS

Act No. 86

WASHINGTON

NO SOCIAL EQUITY PROVISIONS

Initiative 502