Social Equity

New Jersey-based REEForm NJ is launching an initiative to put proceeds from every sale directly into the commissary accounts of incarcerated individuals who are serving time for non-violent cannabis crimes.

New Jersey’s proposed cannabis industry regulations include provisions for social equity and microbusinesses, and application fees as low as $100.

Virginia lawmakers weighed the possibility of launching retail cannabis sales earlier than planned by authorizing existing medical dispensaries to sell recreational cannabis on a temporary basis before retail sales officially begin in 2024.

The new Virginia Socialist Marijuana Coalition hopes to rally activists from across the state to push for more local equitable cannabis policies.

Humboldt County is set to award more than $2 million in grants through Project Trellis, the county’s micro-grant, marketing, and local equity program.

Critics of Arizona’s social equity cannabis rules say they don’t go far enough because the social equity licenses can be freely sold to anyone after they are awarded, whether or not the new holder would qualify for the program.

After a year’s delay, Illinois has awarded 55 conditional adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses for social equity applicants.

Connecticut’s Social Equity Council has approved a list of 215 areas disproportionately impacted by prohibition that will be prioritized for cannabis retail licenses and the state’s social equity program.

The lawsuit filed by a Michigan cannabis company that could have stopped Illinois’ cannabis licensing lottery has been voluntarily dropped.

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.

Cara Wietstock, host of Fresh Cut by Ganjapreneur, meets with Neil Lequia, founder of The Full Spectrum, the first LGBTQ organization in cannabis, to discuss diverse pioneers within the industry and the benefits of focusing on inclusion.

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.