Arizona Social Equity License Update

Arizona Social Equity License Update

Shelby Knight
NOVEMBER 5TH, 2021

States throughout the country are incorporating social equity into their marijuana programs. Designed to build a more inclusive cannabis market, social equity processes help minority business owners or those who were adversely affected by the war on drugs, participate in the industry.

In the Southwest, Arizona has already finalized its Social Equity Ownership Program. The state plans to issue 26 new adult-use social equity licenses and will begin accepting applications in December 2021. Applications that are deemed complete will enter a random selction process to award license winners. The lottery is scheduled for Spring 2022, according to Arizona’s Department of Health Services.

In addition to opening up lucrative licenses to diverse populations, Arizona rules allow people previously convicted of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana or six or fewer plants or paraphernalia to petition for record expungement. Eligible individuals are now able to petition in Arizona courts as part of the Social Equity Ownership Program.

Arizona is a limited license state and only allows for a total of 169 dispensary retail licenses under its adult-use cannabis program. The 26 social equity licenses may be one of the last opportunities for eligible individuals to join the Arizona cannabis market.

To submit an application, applicants must qualify as a social equity applicant. To qualify, you must meet 3 of the following 4 criteria:

  1. Household income at or below the federal poverty level.
  2. Have been charged and/or convicted for a marijuana related crime.
  3. Have a family member/legal guardian who has been charged and/or convicted for a marijuana related crime.
  4. Have lived in a community that has been disproportionately affected by the enforcement of Arizona marijuana laws for at least three (3) of the previous five (5) years.

 

If you answered yes to at least 3 of the above questions, you may be eligible. Click “COMPLETE FORM” button below to learn more about each qualification and how we may be able to assist you.

COMPLETE FORM 

We have successfully secured licenses for clients in over 20 markets across the United States. If you are interested in applying for a cannabis business license, contact us by phone at (602)-290-9424‬ or email (info@thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com) for more information.

Click here to explore the current and pending cannabis programs throughout the United States. 

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