Massachusetts Set to Resume Cannabis Social Equity Training Program After Year-Long Hiatus

Massachusetts Set to Resume Cannabis Social Equity Training Program After Year-Long Hiatus

After a year-long delay due to budget constraints, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has announced it will resume its cannabis social equity training program this fall. The initiative, mandated by the state’s 2016 voter-approved legalization law, is scheduled to restart on September 8 for the 229 individuals already approved last year. The program will also begin accepting new applicants starting August 1.

Originally designed to help individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs gain entry into the legal cannabis industry, the social equity training program was abruptly halted in 2023 after the Massachusetts Legislature failed to allocate the necessary funding. The pause left hundreds of hopeful participants in limbo and raised concerns among advocates about the state’s commitment to equity in the cannabis sector.

The CCC’s acting chair, Bruce Stebbins, expressed gratitude for the efforts made by state officials and CCC staff to revive the program amid financial uncertainties. “We are excited to finally move forward with this important initiative,” Stebbins told the CommonWealth Beacon. “It is a critical part of fulfilling our mission to create a diverse and inclusive industry in Massachusetts.”

The program offers participants cannabis industry training, networking opportunities, regulatory navigation assistance, and fee waivers—tools meant to lower the significant barriers to entry that exist for many aspiring entrepreneurs and workers. In particular, it supports individuals from communities most impacted by previous enforcement policies, including low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.

Kevin Gilnack, deputy director of Equitable Opportunities Now, welcomed the news of the program’s revival but voiced concerns about the impact the delay has had. “It’s definitely frustrating to those who were really eager to get into the industry and looking at this [training program] as their pathway into it,” Gilnack said in the report. “The important thing now is that we figure out a way to make sure future participants aren’t held back by funding challenges.”

He emphasized the need for the Legislature to establish a permanent, automatic funding mechanism that ensures consistent support for social equity initiatives regardless of broader budget negotiations. “Social equity should not be treated as an optional line item,” Gilnack said. “It should be a guaranteed part of how the Commonwealth builds and sustains this industry.”

Massachusetts has faced ongoing criticism for the slow implementation and underfunding of its social equity goals, despite being one of the first states to explicitly include such provisions in its legalization framework. The restart of this program is seen as a step in the right direction, though many advocates stress that consistent oversight and funding are needed to keep the program impactful and sustainable.

Governor Maura Healey’s administration has taken additional steps to support equity in the cannabis space. In 2023, the Governor awarded 50 grants totaling $2.35 million through the state’s Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund. The fund was created to provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities and help them establish or grow their cannabis businesses.

While the resumption of the CCC’s training program offers renewed hope for many aspiring participants, the delay highlights a broader issue: the difficulty of translating equity promises into consistent, long-term action.

The CCC is now working to notify the previously approved participants about the upcoming training schedule and prepare for a new round of applications. As Massachusetts moves forward, stakeholders continue to push for policy improvements that will solidify equity as a cornerstone—not an afterthought—of the state’s cannabis industry.

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