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Cannabis Control Commission Mass. Cannabis Equity Council Policy State Legislation What's Happening

Cannabis equity end-of-session priorities: Expand medical access & equity and reject changes to license caps & CCC receivership

Equitable Opportunities Now submitted the following letter to Massachusetts legislators expressing our deep appreciation for their support, highlighting widely-supported bills, opposing changes to license caps, and opposing putting the Cannabis Control Commission into receivership…

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Mass. Cannabis Equity Council Policy State Legislation

ALERT: Email Your State Rep ASAP to protect equity businesses from MSO market consolidation

There is an effort playing out TODAY in Massachusetts to weaken one of the strongest protections for cannabis equity businesses in the Commonwealth — potentially devaluing their licenses and starting a race to the bottom for the benefit of MSOs and a handful of operators.

The amendment could be debated today or tomorrow, so please use the instructions below to email your State Representative ASAP — then follow up with a call!

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Cannabis Control Commission Cannabis Social Equity Fund Municipal Licensing Equity Policy Press Press Releases & Media Advisories State Legislation What's Happening

Cannabis equity businesses and Equitable Opportunities Now team up to oppose license cap changes & address industry challenges

“The Commonwealth’s license cap is vital to protecting a competitive market and our legally mandated mission to foster equitable participation in this new market,” said EON Policy Co-Chair and MCEC founding member Armani White, who owns provisionally licensed Firehouse. “With lobbyists and lawyers for large multistate operators working with a handful of business leaders to undermine small business protections, it’s vital for cannabis equity businesses to have a voice in the policymaking process.”

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Event What's Happening

Recognizing excellence in cannabis journalism: Chris Faraone, Talking Joints Memo

We have been fortunate in Massachusetts to have a strong cannabis news media landscape — from mainstream publications to alt weeklies to blogs — but few, if any, have been covering grass in Mass. as long as Chris Faraone.

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Cannabis Social Equity Fund Policy State Legislation What's Happening

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.

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Press Press Releases & Media Advisories

Cannabis equity advocates celebrate progress for grant & loan program in FY23 supplemental budget

“The law passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Maura Healey today 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.

“We appreciate all the work that Gov. Healey’s Administration has done in preparation for the launch of the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund and hope they will work quickly to roll out a simple, transparent, user-friendly application process as soon as possible.”

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Cannabis Social Equity Fund Policy Press Press Releases & Media Advisories State Legislation

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.”

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Cannabis Social Equity Fund News Coverage Policy Press State Legislation

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.

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Cannabis Social Equity Fund Policy Press Press Releases & Media Advisories State Legislation

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.

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Cannabis Control Commission Municipal Licensing Equity News Coverage Policy Press

Cannabis Control Commission votes to put new restrictions on payments to municipalities | Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Members of Equitable Opportunities Now, an organization that supports people of color becoming active in the cannabis industry, praised the commission for its focus in reviewing and passing the regulations despite facing massive challenges…