Illinois halts adult-use marijuana retail licensing to boost social equity

State law allows for 500 marijuana stores, but the state will pause licensing non-social equity license holders while social-equity entrepreneurs launch their businesses.

Predatory investors undermine intent of cannabis social equity in New York

Social equity is a societal issue. If you are entering or already participating in the cannabis market, look deeply into your reasons for something other than financial gain.

Missouri revokes 25 more marijuana social equity licenses

Missouri regulators on Monday revoked another 25 marijuana microbusiness licenses earmarked for social equity applicants.

Minnesota judge reinstates lottery for adult-use cannabis social equity licenses

A Minnesota judge has ordered the state’s cannabis regulators to hold a lottery to issue business licenses to qualified social equity applicants after growing fears the lotto might be canceled altogether.

New York launches $5M grant program for cannabis social equity retailers

New York has established a $5 million grant program to support startup costs for adult-use cannabis social equity retail licensees in the state.

Ohio GOP senators advance bill to kill marijuana social equity, limit industry

A Republican-led bill to “regulate the cannabis industry to death” passed the Ohio state Senate on a partisan vote.

White couple appeals dismissal of Rhode Island marijuana social equity lawsuit

A white California couple challenging marijuana social equity provisions across the country has appealed a recent dismissal of a lawsuit in Rhode Island to a federal appeals court.

Litigants who challenged cannabis social equity in New York file another claim

The out-of-state litigants whose lawsuit challenging New York state’s cannabis social equity laws contributed to the infamously botched rollout of adult-use sales in the market have filed another claim against the state.

New York marijuana social equity chief exits to head Maryland regulatory agency

Tabatha Robinson, a top official at New York’s Office of Cannabis Management, has been chosen to diversify a $1 billion market as leader of the Maryland Cannabis Administration.

New York City marijuana social equity operators sue over proximity exemptions

Four New York City marijuana retailers with social equity licenses are suing state regulators, claiming that recently issued exceptions to a law imposing a 1,000-foot barrier between stores is “undermining” their businesses.

Rejected applicants sue Minnesota over marijuana social equity licensing process

Two women are suing Minnesota’s cannabis regulator after being denied an opportunity to participate in the upcoming lottery for adult-use marijuana social equity business licenses.

Minnesota bars two-thirds of marijuana social equity applicants from lottery

About two-thirds of the 1,817 adult-use marijuana social equity license applicants in Minnesota were denied access to the state’s license lottery, which is expected to be held the week of Dec. 2.