Ensuring access to (1) non-predatory capital, (2) education, and (3) business services are the most needed and effective measures to support the participation of equity applicants in the regulated cannabis industry, according to the “Social Equity Legislation in Cannabis: A National Study of State and Local Approaches” report, published by
The Initiative.
The study is accompanied by a database of existing and proposed social equity programs. It offers the first cataloging of equity programs at the state and local levels, the first step in the process of understanding what models have come closest to achieving the goal of opening up businesses owned by individuals adversely affected by the War on Drugs.