Social Equity

Cannabis company Sozo Illinois Inc. has filed a lawsuit claiming a new law signed last week, which expands opportunities for social equity applicants, lowers their chances in an upcoming retail cannabis license lottery.

Raheem Uqdah is the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Curaleaf, the largest multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S.

A Springfield, Illinois community center is using cannabis-derived tax funds for educational and job training programs for 30 formerly incarcerated people.

Democratic senators unveiled the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act today, which seeks to federally legalize cannabis and contains social justice elements aimed at undoing the harms of prohibition.

Virginia Republican Del. Glenn Davis described the state’s cannabis law and social equity licensing provisions as “asinine” and “insanity run amok.”

Kenneth Mason is the CEO of Equibis, a Chicago-based accounting and business analysis firm that specializes in cannabis.

Massachusetts cannabis delivery licenses are now available, but only for applicants who qualify under the state’s social equity and economic empowerment rules.

A social equity cannabis applicant in Los Angeles filed suit against the city over its first-come-first-serve licensing process, which reportedly allowed for online bots to reserve application spots.

The Vermont Cannabis Control Board said it will prioritize social equity opportunities in the state’s upcoming adult-use cannabis market.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) reintroduced the MORE Act on Friday, which seeks to end cannabis prohibition and establish new federal social equity provisions and opportunities.

The Illinois House of Representatives passed a social equity cannabis licensing bill this week; the proposal now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The city of Denver is set to license new cannabis businesses for the first time since 2016 but new applicants must meet the city’s social equity requirements, and some neighborhoods will be excluded as they are already oversaturated with cannabis businesses.

Edmund DeVeaux is a New Jersey-based cannabis industry lobbyist and President of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association.

Washington’s new cannabis social equity provisions, which will offer grant funding and expert advice for qualifying individuals, were signed into law on Monday.

Gretchen Schmidt is the Faculty Program Director for Excelsior College’s Graduate Certificate in Cannabis Control.

The City Council in Denver, Colorado is poised to approve regulations establishing cannabis delivery, retail social equity licensing, and new social consumption options in the city.

Washington state failed to pass key updates to its medical and adult-use cannabis systems this year, including the state’s long-awaited home grow bill.

The Connecticut Judiciary Committee approved the governor’s cannabis legalization proposal this week, moving it one step closer to a full floor vote.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said last week the city is ready to legalize adult-use cannabis sales as soon as the Congressional rider blocking the reforms is gone.

Illinois set a new monthly cannabis sales record in March with $109 million worth of cannabis sold.

Cannabis use and possession are officially legal in New York after Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed the state’s legalization bill into law on Wednesday.

The recently opened Legal Greens in Brockton, Massachusetts is the first Black woman-owned recreational cannabis dispensary on the East Coast.

The National Hispanic Cannabis Council launched on Thursday to raise awareness around cannabis-related health, economic, and legal issues and to promote participation and leadership in the cannabis industry.