The Cannabis Control Commission launched a social equity program on Tuesday to encourage and promote entrepreneurs from minority communities that have suffered disproportionate harm by marijuana laws.
The cannabis control commission is the state's recreational marijuana oversight body.
The state legislature recognizes that people from minority communities are the ones who have been victims to the "war on drugs," — 75% of the people sentenced for mandatory minimum drug offenses were either black or Latino in 2013. The Cannabis Control Commission is required by law to adopt policies that prioritize review and licensing decisions for applicants from minority communities who demonstrate experience and business acumen. The applicants under the program will get ongoing technical assistance, fee waivers and initial exclusive access to certain types of licenses.
The commission has also earmarked certain neighborhoods and towns under this category including Abington, Amherst, Boston, Brockton, Fitchburg, Lowell, Springfield, Walpole, Worcester and others.
In order to reduce barriers to entering the marijuana industry, the agency is inviting applications from minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned business enterprises, setting up a workforce development and employer training programs. The social equity program will pair accepted applicants with qualified vendors based on an applicant's specific interests in the cannabis industry, their current skills, and the outcomes they are seeking to gain from the program. For example, under the program, jobseekers will be connected with prospective and current cannabis employers.
“I will be very pleased if we measure the impact from the social equity program and if it has learnings for other states,” said Shaleen Title, commissioner at the Cannabis Control Commission.
Who is eligible? 1) Applicants residing in an area of disproportionate impact for at least 5 of the past 10 years and an income that does not exceed 400% of the Federal Poverty Level or 2) has a past drug conviction and residence in Massachusetts for at least the preceding 12 months, or is 3) married to or the child of a person with a drug conviction and residence in Massachusetts for at least the preceding 12 months.
