Massachusetts Cannabis Equity Legislative Priorities

EON led the successful legislative campaign to create the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, reform host community agreements, and encourage municipal equity with the passage of Ch. 180 at the end of 2022.

Following that campaign, EON conducted several surveys of business owners, applicants, community leaders, and advocates to help craft a new legislative agenda for the 2023-2024 with partners in the Legislature.

2023-2024 Legislative Agenda

• Equitably reinvesting cannabis revenue in communities harmed by the war on drugs
  • S. 56 An Act relative to reinvestment of cannabis revenue sponsored by Sen. Liz Miranda
  • S. 55 An Act relative to equitable allocation of cannabis revenue sponsored by Sen. Liz Miranda
  • S.57 An Act to encourage equitable cannabis business ownership sponsored by Sen. Liz Miranda
• Creating career pathways for justice-involved individuals
  • S.52 An Act to Create Cannabis Career Pathways for Justice-Involved Individuals sponsored by Sen. Pat Jehlen
  • H.123 An Act to Create Cannabis Career Pathways to Incarcerated Individuals sponsored by Rep. Chynah Tyler
• Removing barriers to equitable participation in the cannabis industry
  • H. 124 An Act to remove HCA real estate barriers to equitable participation in the cannabis industry sponsored by Rep. Chynah Tyler
  • H. 117 An Act relative to vertical integration of medical marijuana businesses sponsored by Rep. David Rogers
• Promoting cannabis equity businesses
  • S.53 An Act to Support Cannabis Equity Businesses sponsored by Sen. Jason Lewis
• Improving access to expungement
  • H.1790 An Act ensuring equitable access to cannabis related expungement sponsored by Rep. Chynah Tyler
  • H.1787 An Act Automatically Sealing Cannabis Records and Promoting Uniform Digital Record Keeping sponsored by Reps. Chynah Tyler and Samantha Montaño

Read our latest legislative news…

• Ask your Rep. to support cannabis equity in MA’s budget
  Please take a few minutes right now to ask your State Representative to invest in creating equitable economic opportunity for communities harmed by the war on drugs. Here’s how:
• EON applauds CCC for Model HCA public comment period, advancing key deliverables, & increasing transparency on Ch. 180 implementation process
  EON applauds Acting Chair Ava Concepcion, her fellow Commissioners, Director of Licensing Kyle Potvin, Esq., and the CCC staff for providing a two-week public comment period for the Model HCA that elicited 19-20 public comments that generated approximately 90 potential changes — and for advancing these key deliverables.
• Cannabis Equity Fund Grant Applications Due Before Midnight TONIGHT
  As a reminder, the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) is accepting applications for the Immediate Needs Grant Program from cannabis social equity businesses that have at least a provisional license from the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) until 11:59 PM TONIGHT (Thurs. 2/15).
• Acting Chair Concepcion, Asst. Secretary Vega and other leaders to speak at Celebration of Equity Champions
  Third-annual fundraising reception will honor contributions to Massachusetts’ historic cannabis equity policies at licensed cannabis equity business New Dia Fenway
• Passage of FY23 closeout supplemental budget advances Cannabis Social Equity Fund
  Yesterday, the Legislature passed, and Gov. Maura Healey signed, the closeout FY23 supplemental budget that will unlock millions of dollars in grants and loans to cannabis equity businesses. This is an important step toward creating economic opportunity for communities harmed by the war on drugs, as envisioned by voters when they passed Question 4.
• Advocates applaud progress on cannabis equity fund in supplemental budget, urge quick passage
  “Language in this bill will unlock millions of dollars to be reinvested back into communities that have been torn apart by over-policing and the war on drugs — and it couldn’t come a minute too soon. The loans and grants this program will provide can help save businesses and jobs before the holidays, but only if all legislators put the needs of the Commonwealth’s residents first by quickly passing this bill in an informal session.”
• Before you log off for Thanksgiving: Speak up for Black & Brown entrepreneurs!
  A Conference Committee has been negotiating the differences between the chambers’ bills for a week already, and could reach a compromise today — or in weeks. Once legislators reach a compromise, there’s no guarantee it will pass without objection from those opposed to other parts of the bill. Entrepreneurs from communities harmed by the war on drugs can’t afford to wait any longer. Let your legislators know that further delays aren’t acceptable and urge them to pass the Cannabis Social Equity Fund fix ASAP.
• Recap + Guest Opinion: Please Advance The Social Equity Trust Fund Fix | Talking Joints Memo
  The group Equitable Opportunities Now, which “educates and empowers people of color to become active participants in the Massachusetts legal cannabis market,” is on top of the situation, and has sent two letters to Beacon Hill lawmakers this month outlining the situation as well as the stakes.
• Tell your legislators: No more equity fund delays!
  Communities harmed by the war on drugs can’t afford to wait any longer! Ask your legislator to pass the cannabis equity fund technical fix today!
• Advocates urge legislators to advance cannabis equity fund with technical fix and new investment in supplemental budget
  Equitable Opportunities Now, a nonprofit that has fought for equitable cannabis policies since the passage of Question 4 — including Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022, which created the new fund last year — is asking legislators to make an immediate one-time $50 million investment in the fund before the end of the year in addition to passing Gov. Healey’s proposed long-term fix.
• Guest Opinion: Black And Brown Cannabis Entrepreneurs Can’t Afford To Keep Waiting | Talking Joints Memo
  The investments and policy decisions we make now will have a lasting impact on whether we create a truly equitable industry.
• Guest Opinion: Where Is Mass Cannabis Tax Revenue Going? | Talking Joints Memo
  Are we equitably reinvesting cannabis revenue in communities harmed by the war on drugs?
• EON testifies in support of slate of statehouse cannabis equity bills
  The investments and policy decisions we make now will have a lasting impact on whether we create a truly equitable industry.
• Help launch the new frontier of cannabis equity in Massachusetts
  After more than four years and two legislative sessions, you helped make history last year when Massachusetts legislators passed a comprehensive cannabis equity bill. Are you ready to do it again?
• Survey: What’s next for cannabis equity in Massachusetts?

  What policy changes would make Massachusetts’ cannabis industry more accessible to people from communities most harmed by the war on drugs?

  Please take a few minutes right now to fill out our 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda Policy Survey and help shape the future of our advocacy for years to come.