Treasurer’s Updated Call for Applications: CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY ADVISORY BOARD (DOC)
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 15, 2022 TO SUBMIT LETTERS OF INTEREST
In conjunction with the Governor and the Attorney General, the Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General, Deborah B. Goldberg (the “Treasurer”), seeks applicants for the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board (the “Equity Advisory Board”), recently created by chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022 (to be codified at M.G.L. c. 94G, § 14A).
The Equity Advisory Board will consult with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (“EOHED”) as EOHED administers the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund (the “Trust Fund”). A first of its kind, the Trust Fund was established to encourage the full participation in the state’s regulated marijuana industry of entrepreneurs from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement (“ADI Communities”).
The Equity Advisory Board will consult with EOHED as it:
- Selects recipients, grant or loan values and conditions for such grants or loans, including when taking into consideration the racial, ethnic and gender demographics of the municipality in which the recipient businesses are located;
- Issues regulations governing the structure and administration of the Trust Fund; and
- Reports on the Trust Fund’s prior fiscal year expenditures.
The Equity Advisory Board will consist of five (5) members:
- 1 person appointed by the Governor with a background in the cannabis industry, who shall serve as chair;
- 1 person appointed by the Treasurer with a background in finance or commercial lending;
- 1 person appointed by the Attorney General with a background in business development or entrepreneurship; and
- 2 persons appointed by a majority vote of the Governor, Treasurer, and Attorney General, who shall have experience in business development, preferably in the cannabis industry.
Equity Advisory Board members must be from, or have experience advocating for, ADI Communities. A current list of the ADI Communities as identified by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission are on the Commission’s website.
If appointed, Equity Advisory Board members shall serve for five (5) years. Appointees may be reappointed at the end of their term. Equity Advisory Board members will not receive a salary, stipend, or other compensation for their service, but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their official duties.
For more details about the Equity Advisory Board or the Trust Fund, please see Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022.
If you are interested in being appointed to the Equity Advisory Board, please send a letter of interest and resume (optional) by November 15, 2022 to the Human Resources Department of the Office of the State Treasurer by email at HR@tre.state.ma.us or by U.S. Mail to One Ashburton Place, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.
Your letter of interest should include an explanation and/or identification of:
- The seat you are applying for (e.g., Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, or joint appointee);
- Whether you are from or have experience advocating for, ADI Communities and the name of the communities; and
- Whether you have prior/present involvement in the Massachusetts regulated marijuana industry and describe that involvement.
The Treasurer’s office will coordinate distribution of applicant submissions to the Governor’s and Attorney General’s offices.
Attorney General’s Call for Applications:
CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY ADVISORY BOARD (Background in business development and entrepreneurship) (PDF)
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 18 of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022 (‘Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board’), Attorney General Maura Healey is seeking applicants for an appointment to the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board. This appointee must have a background in business development or entrepreneurship and be from, or have experience advocating for, communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.
The purpose of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board is to consult with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (‘EOHED’) relative to the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund. Specifically, the members of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board will consult with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development as it:
- Administers the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, designed to encourage the full participation in the commonwealth’s regulated marijuana industry of entrepreneurs from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement, through grants and loans, including no-interest loans and forgivable loans, to social equity program participants and economic empowerment priority applicants;
- Reports on the Trust Fund’s prior fiscal year expenditures; and
- Promulgates regulations governing the structure and administration of the fund.
The members of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board will also consult with the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development as the Secretary:
- Selects recipients, grant or loan values and conditions for such grants or loans, including when taking into consideration the racial, ethnic and gender demographics of the municipality in which the recipient businesses are located.
The term for this appointment is five (5) years. Appointees are eligible for reappointment. Members of the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board serve without compensation except for reimbursement of actual expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties as a member or on behalf of the advisory board.
More information about this Board may be found here:
Section 18 of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022 (to be codified at General Laws Chapter 94G, §14A). Persons interested in being considered for appointment to the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board should send a letter of interest and résumé to GCOMailbox@mass.gov.
Please note, your completed application may be subject to the public records law. See M.G.L. c. 66.