Social Equity

The Colorado governor’s office has announced the new Access to Experts pilot program — offered in collaboration with the Cannabis Business Office — to support the state’s social equity licensed cannabis operators.

Maryland officials announced they will hold a lottery for social equity cannabis licenses this week despite multiple lawsuits targeting the equity provision, including one that claims technical difficulties blocked entry.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is awarding $12 million in joint venture grants to nearly 40 state-licensed dispensaries; the grants are geared toward diverse representatives of communities most affected by the war on drugs.

Maryland officials have released the state’s social equity applicant criteria, including an interactive map to define what qualifies as Disproportionately Impacted Areas.

Phoenix-based cannabis company TILT Holdings Inc. last week abruptly cut ties with three cannabis brands including a social equity entity and paused its partnership with the New York Shinnecock Nation.

The New York Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund last week received a $150 million investment from Chicago Atlantic Admin, LLC. The investment raised the fund’s total up to its $200 million cap.

A New York Appeals Court judge this week narrowed the injunction blocking the licensing of cannabis dispensaries. The move will let the licensing process move forward except in the state’s Finger Lakes region.

A recent proposal in Washington state would create about 100 new retail adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses reserved for social equity applicants.

New York is being sued by several of its medical cannabis operators over the state’s plan to give the first adult-use retail cannabis licenses to social equity applicants.

A recent poll found that 65% of Americans support the legalization of adult-use cannabis — including majorities of Democrat, Republican, and independent or third-party voters — and 57% support the enactment of cannabis social equity measures.

New York’s second cannabis dispensary and first shop owned by an entrepreneur who was previously criminalized for a cannabis-related offense is set to open next Tuesday in Manhattan.

Washington cannabis regulators announced that the 30-day application window for the state’s social equity retail licenses will begin on March 1.

Minnesota lawmakers’ proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis includes social equity considerations, home grow provisions, and an additional 8% tax on cannabis products.

Officials in Detroit, Michigan have issued the city’s first 33 adult-use cannabis retailer licenses; the licensees include 20 equity and 13 non-equity applicants.

New York’s first licensed adult-use cannabis shop — operated by Housing Works, a charitable nonprofit in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood — is officially set to open next week.

The Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation has selected 100 social equity applicants for an opportunity to apply for retail cannabis licenses.

Connecticut’s Social Equity Council reversed denials for six companies looking to establish social equity status in the state while simultaneously establishing a loan program for social equity applicants.

The first two social equity cannabis retailers in Chicago have opened for business in the last week.