Social Equity

A new bill in New York would require multi-state cannabis operators to have a plan to invest in communities disproportionally affected by the war on drugs.

A new poll found that the majority of New York voters oppose prioritizing the state’s adult-use cannabis licenses for people previously convicted of a cannabis-related crime.

Arizona announced it will be holding its social equity drawing this April for the 26 adult-use cannabis licenses set aside for the program.

Tetra Lounge in Denver received the city’s first social equity cannabis hospitality license and intends to have a consumption lounge open for business by 4/20.

Illinois won a court order this week to begin issuing new cannabis industry licenses after years of delays; the state also simplified the application process to make social equity cannabis licenses more attainable for communities most affected by the drug war.

Chenae Bullock is Managing Director of Little Beach Harvest, a vertically integrated cannabis operation by the Shinnecock Indian Nation in New York in partnership with TILT Holdings Inc.

Applicants with prior cannabis-related offenses will receive New York’s first adult-use retail cannabis licenses.

Connecticut’s Social Equity Council has established the household income levels for social equity applicants within the state.

The Latino Cannabis Association launched in New York this week aiming to represent and support Latino licensees, guide policy, and help construct a socially and economically equitable cannabis market.

Comedy Central’s ‘South Park’ recently skewered racial inequality in Colorado’s cannabis industry but while accurately depicting the racial imbalance among cannabis business owners, the show missed the mark on why advocates are calling for social equity.

Lawmakers in the Washington House on Tuesday failed to pass a bill to improve the state’s cannabis social equity considerations.

In an open letter to the industry published on Tuesday, the CEO of cannabis multistate operator Parallel pledged to support fundamental changes in the industry to improve equity in the space.

The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development announced a $35 million grant intended for communities that were most negatively impacted by cannabis prohibition.

This editorial was contributed by Christine De La Rosa, co-founder and CEO of The People’s Ecosystem, a California-based and equity-focused multistate cannabis operator.

Connecticut will start accepting applications for adult-use cannabis licenses next month. The first licenses will be for cultivators and retailers seeking social equity licenses.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) administration is reportedly expecting $1.25 billion in cannabis tax revenue over the next five years.

Delaware’s new cannabis legalization bill would drop a proposed social equity fund, opting instead for a “Justice Reinvestment Fund,” which would provide direct aid to those communities most negatively affected by prohibition.

Several Virginia GOP state lawmakers have pre-filed measures to strip social equity funding and other criminal justice initiatives from last year’s cannabis legalization bill.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is creating a $200 million fund for social equity applicants looking to join the adult-use cannabis industry.

Maryland state Sen. Jill Carter (D-Baltimore) plans to file an adult-use cannabis legalization bill next week which emphasizes social equity, home cultivation, and criminal justice reforms.

Connecticut has approved the state’s social equity cannabis rules and anticipates beginning to accept industry license applications next month.

The California Department of Cannabis Control announced it is now accepting applications for social equity cannabis license fee waivers.